OSHAWA – The City of Oshawa has been asked by the Province to provide input on locational criteria for cannabis retail stores in the city. To ensure that proposed recommendations are reflective of the community, the City is inviting the public to share feedback regarding where cannabis retail stores should or should not be located.
Considerations include proximity to schools, daycare and recreation centres, the Downtown Oshawa Urban Growth Centre, residential uses, as well as parking availability and transit accessibility. Feedback can be provided in one of three ways:
- Complete the online survey at www.connectoshawa.ca/cannabisretailzoning;
- Complete a paper survey at Service Oshawa, located at City Hall (50 Centre St. S.); or
- Attend the Public Meeting on Tuesday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chamber at City Hall (50 Centre St. S.) where attendees can provide comments to Development Services Committee and City staff.
Feedback received by end of day Friday, July 13, 2018 will be considered in the development of recommended locational criteria. The recommendations will be presented to Development Services Committee and City Council in 2018. Upon approval of any proposed locational criteria by Council, copies of the locational criteria would be provided to the Province to inform its search for a cannabis retail store site in Oshawa.
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Background:
- On December 12, 2017 the Province of Ontario approved legislation titled Ontario’s Cannabis Act, 2017 to regulate the lawful use, sale and distribution of recreational cannabis.
- Oshawa was identified by the Province as a host for one of the initial cannabis retail stores.
- The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) will be responsible for operating the cannabis store, however the Province has indicated that it will respect municipal zoning by-laws and only locate cannabis retail stores in areas that permit such stores.
- A cannabis retail store is currently considered a retail store under Zoning By-law 60-94.
