The Town of Athabasca is one step closer to its own marijuana dispensary after the town's subdivision and development appeal board overturned a decision rejecting the facility Oct. 9.
The town's assistant chief administrative officer Rachel Ramey said eight people were at the appeal meeting in the town council's chambers to discuss the proposed development by the Drumheller company Canalta Real Estate Ltd. The development features a cannabis retail outlet, a liquor store and a "quick-food service" at 2300 48th Avenue.
Ramey said people in the gallery said they were not concerned with the cannabis shop in the strip mall, but rather the liquor store, which would be the fifth in town.
"The biggest concern that came from the gallery were concerns regarding the liquor store, and the number of liquor stores we already have in place in town," she said, noting that she represents the development authority at those meetings. "That's not what this board is there for. They're there to hear the appeal on the planning and development merits."
At their Sept. 4 meeting, the town's Municipal Planning Commission rejected an application for the strip mall development with a 3-2 vote. At that time, MPC and town council members David Pacholok, Tannia Cherniwchan and John Traynor voted against the development proposal, while Colleen Powell and Michael Arychuk voted in favour of it.
Ramey said the motion that passed Oct. 9 was to uphold the appeal, and overturn the decision of the commission to refuse the development permit application. She added that if it went any further, it would have to go to the municipal government board, but as it was the applicant who appealed she does not foresee that happening.
"They can go ahead," she said. "They still have to go through their provincial licensing to be able to open the store."
Ramey said Canalta would be the landlord for the building, and there would be tenants in the building operating the stores. In town, Canalta also owns Boston Pizza, A&W and they are the landlord for Tim Hortons building as well.
Town Mayor Colleen Powell said people have been using cannabis since she was young, and she does not foresee any real change.
"The cannabis shop simply is a recognition that this is no longer an illegal substance," she said. "I frankly do not believe that there will be much change in behaviour after maybe the first few months of people going 'Whoopie.'"
Powell also stood by the town's new bylaw, which prohibits cannabis consumption in public places. She said the difference between tobacco smoking and cannabis smoking is that one is an intoxicant.
At their council meeting Oct. 2, councillors voted to approve the second and third readings of a bylaw that prohibits smoking, vaping or consumption of marijuana in public places, unless the area has been designated by town council. The ticket for breaking the bylaw is $100 for the first offence, and $250 for subsequent offences.
"Initially, I think we don't know what community standards are," she said. "So let's start a little conservatively, and if we need to amend that bylaw we can in the future."
