Surrey council approved two more cannabis stores on April 28, one in North Surrey and the other in Cloverdale.
This is in addition to nine others 鈥� seven in North Surrey and two in South Surrey 鈥� that got , once again on a five-to-four vote.
These two most recently approved stores will be at 104-12499 88 Avenue and 5828 176 Street.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and councillors Mandeep Nagra, Rob Stutt and Gordon Hepner voted against them at third reading and councillors Doug Elford, Pardeep Kooner, Harry Bains, Linda Annis and Mike Bose voted in favour.
On the first application, city hall received 24 pieces of correspondence in support and one expressing concerns.
While the applicant told council the location is "ideal" for his business another speaker said that "it's a general perception there is lots of crime in the area. I don't think such things are going to make it any better 鈥� it would rather make it worse."
On the second application, city hall received two pieces of correspondence in support and two opposed.
Two people spoke out at the hearing. A representative of the applying business said it wants to "contribute to the community" and pays "fair, above-average wages" while resident Amrik Purewal told council he's "totally against it. We don't need this kind of service in that area. We already have lots of homeless issues in the area."
He fears it "will bring more addicted people in the area, and will create more mess" for existing businesses that are "suffering.
"They're having a hard time to survive," he said. "This is a tough time."
