New rule means fewer cannabis stores on Stephen Avenue

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — In response to some concerns from businesses and residents, there’s a new rule in place that affects how many cannabis stores can open up on Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary.

During a meeting of the Planning and Urban Development Committee at City Hall Monday, a 300-metre distance requirement was approved.

This makes Stephen Avenue slightly different from the rest of the core, as usually there are no such requirements due to the density of the area.

But when it comes to this specific type of business, there was a desire to prevent overproliferation.

“We think it’s prudent and responsible that administration wants to manage the potential for socio-economic impacts,” said executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association, Marco De Iaco. “We’re on a mission to rejuvenate downtown right now, and part of that exercise is reinventing and looking at the brand of Stephen Avenue. We want to make sure that it’s attractive to investors and Calgarians and visitors.”

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De Iaco says they have had many conversations with stakeholders in the area, and they agree this is the correct step in order to ensure a proper mix of dining, shopping and other attractions. On the other end, he told reporters he has not heard any complaints from prospective or existing cannabis store owners.

Ward 7 Councillor Druh Farrell, who sits on the committee, says this puts 8th Avenue in line with other main streets, where success lies in a mix of businesses.

“I think it’s not a special requirement, and that’s why we felt we needed it. Every other main street in the city has some sort of separation distance. We excluded, accidentally, Stephen Avenue. So it was treated as the rest of downtown, which doesn’t have any separation distances.”

Farrell does not anticipate any problems will arise from this decision, as two stores have been approved to open on Stephen Avenue, with a couple more pending review. With the 300 metre rule, a maximum of four or five stores would be able to operate in total.

Committee Chair and Ward 3 Councillor Jyoti Gondek agrees it won’t have much of a ripple effect.

“There’s already this negative connotation of having cannabis retail, period. So, I think we need to wait and see what happens. This is a product that has been legalized, we need to get over it.”

There are about two dozen cannabis stores strewn across Calgary, including several throughout the Beltline. Recently though, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced they will stop issuing new licenses due to a supply shortage. The Calgary Subdivision and Appeals Board is also continually holding hearings on appeals over cannabis store applications.