New liquor stores harder to open under St. Paul’s new bylaw regulations

New bylaw regulations in St. Paul will make it more difficult for new liquor and cannabis stores to open. 

As part of its land-use bylaw, the Town is increasing the separation distances for these retail stores to 200 metres from 100 metres. All proposed stores are to be fronting Main Street, which was in the original land-use bylaw.

These stores would then have to be 200 metres away from private or public schools, provincial health care facility, a registered day care, the St. Paul Wellness Centre, the St. Paul Community Health Services, St. Paul Public Library, Portage College, public parks including Lions Park, or parcels of land that is designated as school reserve or municipal and school reserve. 

Town council is looking to get more involved in this aspect of business developments. Mayor Maureen Miller says with the number of addiction issues in the community, is the Town already well served by the six liquor stores that are open? 

“We sat down as council and said, are we satiated enough with liquor stores?” Miller told Lakeland Connect. 

“Because we do go to the government asking for support services around mental health and addictions. Alcohol is a large addiction that has been identified in our municipality. And are we actually biting the hand that’s trying to feed us?” 

At the Nov. 13 meeting, an open house on a series of land-use amendments were held before passing second and third reading.  

In 2023, three development applications alone have been filed with the Town. One was withdrawn by the developer, another denied on Aug. 28, and a third is currently denied by the Municipal Planning Commission because it doesn’t adhere to the 200m setbacks, but the appeal process is still open. 

Miller acknowledges that municipalities rarely get involved in business applications, and that increasing the tax base is a benefit. But when it comes to alcohol and cannabis, they think strengthening their regulations is part of their long-term plan.

“Do we like to close off business? Absolutely not,” said Miler. 

“As a municipality, and those that are elected to be around this table, it’s our responsibility to actually look at the community as a whole. And do we have enough access? And we felt, yes, we did. So we did do second and third reading based on the feedback. 

“The kickback was, are you going to start managing pizza places, and you’re gonna start managing? No, absolutely not. There’s enough statistics based on our community alone, of the challenges we’re up against mental health and addictions and are we going to help enable a further crisis?”

That’s what a letter from Darryl Poirer argued in the preface of this discussion, saying, “lf the Town has a good financial position that we can turn away new businesses I am sure the Town taxpayers will be enjoying a tax break.”

Municipalities have a 40-day window in order to accept or deny a development application. Public Hearings are launched to allow residents to submit comments or feedback to Council directly before final readings of a proposed bylaw, and is meant to inform their decision-making.