Few Delta residents have responded to requests for feedback on cannabis store applications in Delta.
Council on Monday gave preliminary approval for Queensborough Cannabis Co.'s application for a non-medical cannabis outlet at a unit in the Scott 72 Centre shopping centre, located at Scott Road and 72 Avenue.
That application, which also requires approval from the province’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, will go to a public hearing.
The city sent more than 2,100 notification letters for the proposal and received just 10 responses, all in opposition.
Meanwhile, council this week also granted preliminary approval for two more cannabis dispensary applications, one at the Ladner Centre shopping mall and the other at the Tidewater Pub on River Road.
A request for public feedback on the Ladner application, as well as a subsequent amendment to the application, was issued to more than 3,000 recipients, only receiving 54 and 34 responses respectively with the majority in opposition.
A public notification letter about the Tidewater proposal was sent to around 1,000 recipients earlier this year and just 15 responses were received. Fourteen people conveyed opposition while one person was in support.
The applicant had collected more than 50 letters of their own in support.
Both those applications are also headed to a public hearing.
The city also held a public hearing recently for a pair of pot shops in Tsawwassen.
Both those applications received third reading by council but still require the province’s go-ahead before council considers final approval.
Over 3,200 public notification letters were sent for each Tsawwassen application with less than 100 responses received combined. The support and opposition received was almost even.
It was also an even split when it came to the few speakers on the Tsawwassen applications with those in favour saying people need convenience and choice, while those opposed said the stores are not appropriate for the community and send a bad message for young people.
In-stream and to eventually go to council’s table is an application for a pot shop at Tilbury.
Council on Monday also discussed a staff report on a moratorium currently in place for city staff not to accept and consider any new applications until the current batch has been dealt with.
The report notes that council had passed the resolution on Sept. 27, 2021, when there were six applications submitted.
Council subsequently allowed staff to accept three additional rezoning applications where applicants “had demonstrated significant progress had been made preparing their applications with expenses incurred” prior to the resolution.
Council has recently given final approval for a government-run cannabis shop that will open at the Scottsdale Centre in North Delta, while Inspired Cannabis Co. has already opened a cannabis retail store at the Delta Shoppers Centre further up Scott Road.
Another cannabis store has opened on Chester Road at Annacis Island.
