The City of Guelph has voiced its opposition to a pair of retail cannabis stores being proposed for Downtown Guelph.
The first location is The Cannabist Shop at 166 Wyndham St. N., which is the same address as The Guelph Concert Theatre.
The second is Q-bud at 128 Wyndham St. N., the former Sidonio's Menswear location.
Spokesperson Mary Jo Milhomens with the city said that the two letters of opposition were filed "because the locations were within sensitive areas as per council’s direction. We have not opposed any other locations."
The online submissions of objection include concerns about the proximity to the Community Health Centre and daycare facilities.
"The City of Guelph is formally requesting that the application for 166 Wyndham Street N be denied, as we believe it conflicts with the Province’s intentions to protect public health and safety and to protect youth and restricting their access to cannabis," said the submission regarding The Cannabist Shop application on Wyndham.
"The location also conflicts with the sensitive guidelines identified by Guelph City Council on January 2019. These guidelines were based on a validated community survey on the subject."
The city says the proposed store is within 150 metres of the following “sensitive” locations:
- Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre (146 Wyndham Street North),
- Rapid Access Addiction Centre (176 Wyndham Street North)
- Guelph Wellington Community Health (176 Wyndham Street N)
- Wyndham House- Youth Services for at risk youths (133 Woolwich Street),
"It should also be noted this information along with the unsuitability of the location was relayed to applicants prior to the application being posted," the city said.
The city's objection to 128 Wyndham St. mentions daycare facilities on Woolwich Street and Douglas Street.
In total there are currently nine applications for cannabis retail outlets in Guelph.
A 10th location appears to be poised to apply for a licence further south on Wyndham Street, judging by a sign in the window of the former Home Essentials store just south of Old Quebec Street Shoppes. But that application has yet to be formally filed with the province.
