Three cannabis stores have gotten the green light from the city to start building in St. Albert.
“We were excited about it and to move forward,” said Tammy Formoe, owner of The Wanted Leaf.
On Oct. 10, residents and business owners asked the subdivision and development appeal board to overturn development permits granted to The Wanted Leaf at #170, 50 Thomas Street, Campbell Park Cannabis at #10, 17 Boudreau Road and Rocky Mountain Roots at #330, 5 Giroux Road.
The Wanted Leaf and Campbell Park Cannabis had one appeal each, while six were filed against Rocky Mountain Roots.
On Monday, the board ruled in favour of the retailers, stating the stores were in line with municipal rules.
Gordon Kroeker spoke on behalf of appellant Patrick Makinson against The Wanted Leaf at the Oct. 10 meeting. Makinson had concerns about people consuming cannabis on site, impacting residents who live in condos above the proposed store.
Makinson was also concerned about noise, loitering and decreased property values.
Cindy Pearn, who owns two apartments at St. Thomas Manor, voiced similar concerns of noise to the board. Her two units are located above The Wanted Leaf.
Upon hearing the board’s decision, Pearn said “time will tell” if the cannabis store causes any issues.
“I don’t want to squash anyone’s business idea, it is what it is,” she said in a phone interview. “I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and I wish them well.”
Formoe said the appeal had pushed construction back by about a month.
Kathy Burry filed an appeal against Campbell Park Cannabis. Burry, who is a condo board member where the shop is looking to open, had parking, littering and loitering concerns.
Mike's Vapor Trails, which recently shut down for selling illegal cannabis products, was located in the condo complex. Burry said customers often vaped in their car and littered filters on the ground.
She also had concerns that a cannabis store would impact the re-sale value of rental units.
In its ruling, however, the board stated Burry had failed to demonstrate to the board that the cannabis store would unduly interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood. The board also noted noise, loitering, smoking odours, parking and decreased property values aren’t covered by the city’s land use bylaw.
Burry declined a follow-up interview, while Campbell Park Cannabis owner Zayne Yachimec did not respond to the Gazette by press deadline.
Six appeals were filed against Rocky Mountain Roots for concerns over security, delivery, proximity to residential homes, loitering, property damage, reduced property values and environmental concerns, to name a few.
Following the board's decision, Ryan LeGassick, owner of Rocky Mountain Roots, said he was looking forward to moving ahead.
“We’re pleased with the board’s decision to uphold our development permit,” he said. “We still realize that there’s a lot of work to be done with the condo association and the owners.”
In each of its rulings, the appeal board said the complaints fell beyond the scope of the land use bylaw.
LeGassick said there haven’t been any follow up conversations with the appellants as of yet. The appeal has pushed back construction, but LeGassick has hopes to finish building by early next year.
“Our goal is to be a responsible member of the community, and try and help educate and change the stigma towards cannabis use,” he explained.
The Gazette contacted multiple appellants for comment on the appeal board’s decision but none responded by press time.
