Flight Deck Cannabis Co. is hoping to move locations following a lengthy application process that requires provincial and municipal approval and rezoning.
With local bylaws limiting where retailers can sell cannabis in the village, Flight Deck Cannabis took over a space at 1160 Sun Peaks Rd. nearly six years ago.
Occupying this space required a site-specific rezoning application, similar to what will be needed to relocate due to the municipality’s Business License Bylaw.
In that time, co-owner Sonya Nasilowski has seen support for her shop increase, and is hoping to shift to a more central location to meet community and tourist needs.
“It’s currently very hard for tourists, especially if they’re staying in the east end of the village, to get to our location,” she said. “So, I think it’s just going to give us more traffic.”
But moving the location to 3250 Village Way isn’t straightforward.
Section 33 of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act requires a “positive recommendation” for relocating from the local government, in this case, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, prior to relocating.
Additionally Sun Peaks’ Business License Bylaw restricts the sale of cannabis, requiring it be 250 metres away from a park, school, library and others.
Two parks including the Plaza and Parcel S are located within the requested relocation area, and in accordance with provincial regulations council must provide a written recommendation to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch as to whether it will consider the application.
“This isn’t approving it or not approving it. It’s just to get the feedback from council on whether you would like to proceed,” said director of planning and community services, Demitri Hofer. “We will then proceed down the normal rezoning path now.”
During the March 10 meeting, council did just that, and Flight Deck Enterprises Inc. now has to undergo a site-specific rezoning application for the new location, because in Sun Peaks cannabis sales are not included as part of retail sales. After a referral process the application will come back to staff, and a report in favour or against the relocation will be prepared for council.
Afterward, it may go to a public hearing where folks will have an opportunity to express their opinions. Council would then make a decision before adopting the move.
The proposed location is relatively sheltered for folks who aren’t in favour, Nasilowski said.
“It’s not quite exposed to the village walk, so I think it does give the people that don’t want to see it a little bit of breathing room and space,” she explained. “However, I think that’s a pretty minority group of people that are not for us. At our last public hearing, everybody that was there was there for support.”
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