This month, the town council approved a zoning change that will permit a retail cannabis store in Tillsonburg.
The property at 52 Simcoe St. was chosen as a possible location for the cannabis store because it doesn’t have a second floor. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has rules stating that there can’t be “tenancy above the actual location,” according to the applicant.
Jason Kane, who has owned the Dominion Lending Centre in Tillsonburg for two years, mentioned he initially explored downtown locations but found that the Simcoe Street spot worked better for his needs.
“I did look actually look to the downtown core for this location. … Our initial use (of 52 Simcoe St.) would be the top floor, which is around 2,500 square feet. We do have access for storage that we would be using (the 1,800 square feet) in the basement for some of the product.”
Kane added that there would also be enough parking at this building.
He expressed a preference to convert his current space at 18 Oxford St., but provincial guidelines prevent this due to having a second floor.
Kane mentioned he’s both part of the Tillsonburg BIA and the chamber of commerce.
Staff had concerns about how large the potential retail area is since the official plan calls for a minimum of 3,500 square feet, meaning that the main floor of the Simcoe Street building falls about 1,000 square feet short. However, when considering space in the basement, it meets requirements.
Eric Gilbert, who is an Oxford County planner for Tillsonburg, stated that while other municipalities in Oxford allow cannabis production zoning, this would be its first retail location.
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