City proposes minimum distances between pot shops, schools

Broadway could have different rules than the rest of the city when it comes to setting up a cannabis retail store.

A city report ahead of Monday’s planning, development and community services committee meeting is detailing recommendations for buffer zones to separate pot shops from schools, parks, community centres, public libraries and child care centres in Saskatoon.

The general recommendation is a radius of 160 metres — one city block — from school property lines. The distance is the same restrictions for adult service shops.

However, the proposed separation would bar cannabis retailers from operating within the Broadway Business Improvement District due to the locations of Oskayak High School, Ecole Victoria School and Graham Park.

Administration said surveys suggested high support for a pot shop within the BID.

“An alternative approach to applying separation distances in the Broadway district warrants consideration,” the report writes.

The city suggests an exception for the neighbourhood, allowing for a 60 metre radius from the boundaries of the schools and park.

The reduced separation would allow a cannabis retailer to set up in several areas along Broadway and Dufferin Aves.

The distances would also be enforced between pot shops.

The province is allowing for up to seven non-medicinal cannabis retailers to operate in Saskatoon when it becomes legal.

City councillors will also consider allowing cannabis production facilities within areas of the city zoned as “heavy industrial.”

The committee meeting begins at 9 a.m.