PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Proposed New Cannabis Retail Store 1326 Ottawa Street – Windsor, Ontario
Prepared by: Barry Horrobin, B.A., M.A., CLEP, CMM-III Director of Planning & Physical Resources – WINDSOR POLICE SERVICE
The following is a summary of observations, public safety issues that should be addressed, and recommended actions to be taken regarding the physical safety and security conditions associated with the proposed new Cannabis retail store proposed within the Ottawa Street BIA. Information provided here is based on the universally known principles of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and both vehicular and pedestrian traffic impact, according to prevailing data and known experience in forecasting public safety impacts.
KEY UNDERLYING CONDITIONS & IMPORTANT SAFETY DRIVERS
Situational Safety & Criminogenic Conditions
The property is situated within the boundaries of the Ottawa Street BIA, a well defined commercial area that abuts residential neighbourhoods and where there are generally high amounts of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Its physical placement supports open, safe pedestrian accessibility to the front of the business but a potentially complicating factor is that it backs onto an alley which exhibits signs of unlawful behaviour (sustained quantities of graffiti). This does present some anticipated public safety challenges that need addressing; in particular:
The physical placement of the store property includes building access points to both Ottawa Street (two doors @ front of store) and a rear alley (back of store). It will be very important that all public access be restricted to the more visually accountable front (Ottawa Street) side where ongoing natural surveillance capability is highest.
The property has a limited sidewalk apron to safely accommodate larger crowds that may arise without a potential spillover onto the adjacent roadway. If this occurs, a public safety problem could develop with pedestrians spilling onto the roadway and will therefore need to be addressed by the applicant.
PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACT ASSESSMENT – Proposed New Cannabis Retail Store
June 2020