From fish and chips to cannabis in Southampton?

For many years, the popular ‘Chips Ahoy’ on Albert Street in Southampton has given residents and visitors mouth-watering fish and chips and Greek food every summer.  Recently, however, the ‘sold’ sign went up on the building.

Now, if a company called “Cannabis Grey Bruce” succeeds in its application, it will become a cannabis store.  The company has applied to open two stores in Owen Sound and one at the 17 Albert Street in Southampton.

A Google search of the company name has returned no relevant information.

For the Southampton store application, the public notice period opened Tuesday, April 22nd and will continue until the May 5th deadline.

The public notice period allows residents of a community to submit comments through the AGCO portal to determine whether the proposed location is appropriate.

Comments are then considered that relate to protecting public health and safety, restricting youth access to cannabis and preventing illicit cannabis activities.

          Adjacent properties: Real Estate, Southampton Town Hall with theatre, art gallery & school and the                                                                                        Outlaw Brewing Co.

While Provincial regulation dictates a cannabis store cannot operate within 150 metres of a school, Owen Sound has also set out several sensitive areas that require 70 metre setbacks, including from bars, churches, daycares, public recreation centres, long-term care facilities, addiction treatment centres and alcohol distributors such as The Beer Store or the LCBO.

     Residence and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on the adjacent block

The applicant then receives copies of the submissions and will have five days to respond to them.

The Commission then continues the due diligence process and decides if it will authorize a retail store at a location.

Apparently, according to several residents in the area, they have heard little to nothing about the proposed application.