A proposal to rezone a property in 91大黄鸭鈥檚 South Mission to allow for a retail cannabis store was rejected by city council on Monday (Apr. 28), after tie votes halted both the rezoning motion and an effort to send the matter to a public hearing.

The application concerned 5008 South Ridge Drive. While a public hearing is not required for zoning bylaws that align with the Official Community Plan (OCP), as per provincial legislation, Councillor Gord Lovegrove urged council to hold one, citing considerable public concern.

鈥淚ncluding letters from doctors and retired police constables was pretty clear鈥攖hey're concerned about the influence on their neighbourhood and the values that they hold,鈥� Lovegrove said. 鈥淚'd like them to have their say, but I also want to give the proponent a chance to respond.鈥�

Lovegrove鈥檚 motion received support from councillors Ron Cannan, Mohini Singh, and Rick Webber.

鈥淚 think it's important we hear both sides of the story and have a public discussion,鈥� said Cannan.

Coun. Luke Stack, however, noted that extensive public input had already been received via written correspondence.

鈥淚 think the public's views have been articulated quite clearly鈥攁t least for me to understand what their perspective is,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, I don't personally see the value of going to a public hearing after already hearing all the feedback.鈥�

Coun. Singh supported the hearing, citing transparency and fairness for the applicant, Nonis Developments.

鈥淪o that there is an element of fair play and we are giving both sides an equal opportunity to express themselves to council,鈥� Singh said. 鈥淚 support the public hearing process.鈥�

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge opposed the motion, pointing out that previous cannabis licence applications haven't been sent to public hearings.

鈥淪o it's consistency, and I'm quite comfortable in understanding the position of the neighbours and would be willing to make a decision, so I won't be supporting this going to a public hearing,鈥� Wooldridge said.

The motion for a public hearing was defeated in a 4鈥�4 tie, with Mayor Tom Dyas, and councillors Stack, Wooldridge, and Charlie Hodge voting against. The subsequent rezoning application also failed in a tied vote.

Coun. Maxine DeHart was absent from the meeting.

The applicant may bring the rezoning proposal back to council at a future date.