Belleville resident Chris Meagher addresses planning committee on public works expansion on May 2, 2016. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Two applicants looking to set up marijuana dispensaries in the City of Belleville will have to wait until the federal government rolls out its planned pot legislation next year.
Monday night, Director of Engineering and Development Services Rod Bovay told the planning advisory committee that staff continued to investigate and the storefronts are not considered legal by Health Canada.
“We told both parties that their applications were premature and these types of uses should wait until the federal government confirms legislation,” explained Bovay. “They are opening up across the county in municipalities but they’re not being regulated.”
Councillor Jack Miller echoed previous concerns that the proposed site at 373 Sidney Street was in a “significant residential area.”
On April 20,2016, Health Minister Jane Philpott told a UN special session on drugs that Canada will introduce legislation next spring to spark the process of legalizing and regulating marijuana.
In other business, the committee will be sending a recommendation to council to allow for a new expanded public works facility at 31 Wallbridge Crescent.
Both City Clerk Matt McDonald and Bovay said they couldn’t elaborate on what the expansion would entail but there will be a 2017 budget item on how it would be used down the road.
When asked by Quinte News if the Water Customer Service Department on College Street would eventually move to the Wallbridge location to allow for a new police station, Bovay answered council hasn’t come right out and said what its intentions are yet.
“Now that water will need a place to go, it would make sense,” said Bovay.
During the meeting a resident who lives close to the site said he was concerned by the lack of information released about the planned expansion.
“I’m concerned about dust, sand and dirt,” Chris Meagher told the committee. The creek nearby has environmental issues.”
Meagher also pointed to heavy traffic flow in the area and how he finds it unsettling that people drive too fast, leading him to believe there could be a serious or tragic collision.
The committee amended the zoning by-law to ensure it could only be used as a public works yard and McDonald told Meagher that the City will keep in contact with him through the process.
An east end subdivision project slated 2017 was also the topic of discussion.
Hilden Homes is looking to make a slight modification in its draft approved plan for an 42 unit subdivision at Spruce Gardens and Mercedes Meadows. The subdivision is in the area of Haig Road behind Tessa Boulevard.
The developer is looking to increase the plan by eight units to allow for street townhouses.
To ensure the change, a zoning amendment will have to take place. Bovay says residents in the area will receive notice before hand.
