Here’s where Kelowna’s first retail cannabis stores could be located

The City of Kelowna has released information detailing possible locations for the city’s first wave of retail cannabis stores.

City planners received 31 applications in total, each of which will undergo an evaluation process conducted by a city committee beginning in early January.

How many retail stores will open following the evaluation process remains unknown, however, the submitted applications paint an interesting picture of exactly where the stores could be located.

The largest concentration of proposed locations is in the downtown core, including three on Pandosy Street between Leon and Lawrence Avenues.

Another three locations are to the north of downtown, while four have been submitted for the Rutland area, two for Glenmore, along with locations in the Lower Mission and Reid's corner.

Only two of the 31 applications are from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, the government agency operating the BC Cannabis Store in Kamloops.

Retail cannabis applications are subject to a rezoning application, meaning each application will come in front of council where interested members of the public and neighbouring properties will be able to comment.

There are also rules regarding minimum separation from major city parks, schools, and distance from other cannabis stores.

City planners have been vocal about the time consuming nature of the evaluation process, saying cannabis stores not expected to open until late spring 2019.