Sylvan Lake furthers preparations for pot legalization

“Well over 80 per cent of all survey respondents agree that we should not only be expanding the definition for smoking to include all forms of lighted devices and or types of content being inhaled but they wanted to see that restricted further,” Gaudet goes on to say. “Fifty five per cent of survey respondents indicated that they were either somewhat unconcerned or not at all concerned with the legalization of cannabis.”

Regarding land-use and the regulation of business, Gaudet says they asked residents about their preferences for setbacks or distances between cannabis retail stores in Sylvan Lake.

“Administration is proposing that we expand those smoking bans to include public parks and playground properties,” she explains. “That would include no smoking within Sylvan Lake Beach and it would also include something like our off-leash dog park. We’re also looking at expanding our smoking restrictions to include our municipal facilities or properties where children are present, so that would mean a ban at our NexSource Centre, our library and our family and community centre.”

Gaudet says The Town’s definition of smoking would also be updated to include cannabis and all vaping products.

“These are in addition to existing proposed provincial and federal regulations,” states Gaudet. “The province has already indicated that smoking will not take place in vehicles or public areas where children frequent such as skate, bike, splash parks, outdoor pools, zoos, sports fields, that sort of thing.”

With respect to land-use, Gaudet says administration is proposing a 150 metre buffer between cannabis retail stores, provincial health facilities, public libraries, indoor municipal recreation facilities, community centres, schools and school reserves in the community.

“That expands a bit on what the province has put out as a minimum, which is 100 metres,” Gaudet admits. “It was only 100 metres between provincial health facilities, schools and school reserves, so we’ve added the municipal facilities there as well and another 50 metres.”

According to Gaudet, Town administration is also recommending a separation of 150 metres between cannabis retailers in the community as well.

“In addition, we’re also proposing that cannabis retail stores are considered discretionary use and commercial and mixed-use districts,” explains Gaudet. “That would mean that this is based on the discretion of a development authority like our Municipal Planning Commission or our Council, depending on the zone. We’re pretty confident that we would have a good, reasonable process to limit, as well as to provide that economic opportunity for the industry.”

She says further feedback from the public is still being welcomed with staff now drafting new bylaws and regulations before they come back to council.

There will now be another public hearing and open house before the anticipated legalization of marijuana this summer, though the date is unknown.

by Sheldon Spackman

Sylvan Lake furthers preparations for pot legalization

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