Despite opposition from the health authority and local schools, the Chieftain Plaza may have a cannabis dispensary next to the liquor store.
In a split 4-2 decision, council voted in favour of a development variance permit that would allow a pot shop to set up close to schools and another dispensary, so long as the applicants can supply two public high-speed electric vehicle chargers.
Councillors Doug Race, John French, Eric Andersen and Armand Hurford voted in favour of the motion.
Mayor Karen Elliott and Coun. Chris Pettingill were opposed. Coun. Jenna Stoner was absent.
The development variance permit will allow Heartland Retail Ltd. to set up the store.
The permit will be issued to Chieftain Plaza Holdings Ltd., the owner of the property.
Putting the shop in the plaza will put the dispensary 145 metres away from École Squamish Elementary and 169 metres away from École Les Aiglons. Bylaws stipulate that cannabis retailers must be 300 metres away from schools.
Heartland's store, staff noted, would also be relatively close to what's anticipated to be 99 North cannabis dispensary's new location at 1200 Hunter Place. Bylaws also stipulate that cannabis retailers must be 300 metres away from each other. 99 North's new location is also 145 metres away from what would be Heartland's shop.
Last year, council gave 99 North a permit to move there, making it another exception to the 300-metre school rule.
Race, who proposed the motion, said cannabis stores are highly regulated, which prevents students from accessing cannabis.
He also said spacing the cannabis dispensaries so far from each other seemed like an arbitrary rule.
Elliott said she was against the motion on the grounds that it was fronting Cleveland. She was concerned it would be the first thing people see coming to town.
Schools and Vancouver Coastal Health were opposed to allowing Heartland to set up shop in the Chieftain Plaza, saying it would jeopardize students' health.
"Vancouver Coastal Health opposes this application on the grounds that a retail outlet, selling a substance known to be harmful to young people, would be situated in close proximity to schools," reads a letter from Geoff McKee, a medical health officer with VCH.
"As a health authority, it is our responsibility to protect the health of young people from harmful substances such as cannabis, tobacco and vapour products. The availability of cannabis close to schools can normalize the use of a substance that we are working hard to make less available to this vulnerable population."
Another letter from Mohammed Azim, the secretary-treasurer of School District 48, also voiced opposition to the shop.
Michel Tardif of École Les Aiglons also expressed disagreement with the proposal in an email.
