Four pot shops are set to roll out in Port Coquitlam.
But before city council green-lights the rezoning bids, it will open the floor next Tuesday to hear from the public.
Last week, council unanimously gave first and second readings to change the property uses for two BC Cannabis stores — expected to be among the first in the Lower Mainland — and two owned by the private company burb.
If approved, they will be sited at:
• 1971 Lougheed Hwy. (government, near No Frills);
• 985 Nicola Ave. (government, near Home Depot);
• 2755 Lougheed Hwy. (burb, at PoCo Place mall);
• and 1502 Broadway St. (burb, at the Mary Hill Bypass).
Mayor Brad West told The Tri-City News the four proposed outlets are “well located” in the community — away from homes and sensitive areas such as schools and playgrounds — and he hasn’t heard a lot of negative feedback about their potential impacts.
“In fact, the most common question I get is, ‘When are they going to open?’”
West said he’s looking forward to the public voicing its comments and concerns at the hearing, which starts at 6 p.m. July 23 at city hall.
What the hearing is not, he said, is a survey on people's opinions on the federal government’s decision to legalize recreational cannabis. “That ship has sailed,” the mayor said. “That has nothing to do with the city of Port Coquitlam.”
As part of its condition for opening, burb must give an annual $2,500 scholarship to a graduating student in PoCo as well as a $5,000 donation to a charitable group in the city for each of its new stores.
Burb has also promised to provide a living wage to its full-time employees (BC Cannabis store workers are unionized).
Burb co-owner Steve Dowsley said the scholarships will go to Terry Fox and Riverside secondary students while its charitable component will be awarded to the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation, a philanthropic group. The company also plans to do some outreach work such as park and river cleanups.
Dowsley said after next week’s public hearing — and if council OKs third and fourth readings — “we will move expeditiously with the province to complete the final step” of store inspections.
And once a licence is issued, burb will be open for business within five to 10 days, he said.
As for the BC Cannabis stores, the Liquor Distribution Branch (the operator of the public BC Liquor stores and cannabis outlets) aren’t required to apply for and receive licensing from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB).
LDB spokesperson Karen Shum said she can’t anticipate when the two public shops will open in PoCo but said, "If all goes according to plan… we are aiming for later this fall, within the year."
