Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Grandview Village Board members voted unanimously Tuesday night to alter local zoning law so there's no question a medical marijuana dispensary can open in the Sangamon County community of 1,400 people.
"I don't think there's anything negative about it," Village President Mark Woollen said after trustees Joe Hopkins, Brad Howlett, Leland Rhodes, Janice Bentley, Vickie Kean and Karen Murphy approved the proposed change in Grandview's 1989 zoning ordinance.
The change explicitly allows marijuana dispensaries in Grandview's commercial district along North Grand Avenue East.
Village officials made the change, which was unanimously recommended June 23 by the Grandview Zoning Board of Appeals, in response to Maribis of Springfield's interest in renting space at 2272 North Grand Ave. E. for a medical marijuana dispensary.
Officials from Maribis, owned by Chicago lawyer Laurel Dineff, didn't attend Thursday's meeting. There was no discussion among village trustees before the vote, and no one from the public spoke about the proposed change.
Contacted by The State Journal-Register after the vote, Maribis spokesman Bret Bender said the company is "pleased the village board has welcomed us to their community. We look forward to working with the village board and local law enforcement for years to come."
Zoning approval from village officials was needed for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to allow Maribis to open in Grandview instead of 322 E. Adams St. in downtown Springfield.
The Adams Street location was part of the company's original plans when it was one of two organizations granted dispensary licenses in March 2015 for the Illinois State Police district that includes Sangamon and six other counties.
The other organization, Effingham-based HCI Alternatives, opened in February at 628 E. Adams in Springfield.
Bender said he plans to request a building permit from Sangamon County officials and a change of location from state officials "in a matter of days."
Location changes have been granted by the state for dispensary licenses in the past.
Maribis plans to renovate the one-story, 5,100-square-foot building in Grandview for less than $500,000 and hopes to open it by Labor Day, Bender said.
The original site, which Dineff purchased for $300,000, required unexpected additional renovations. Rather than spend the money and wait longer to open, Dineff looked for another local site, Bender said.
Other than a village resident who complained at the zoning board meeting that a dispensary would reduce the value of her home near the dispensary site, no one has voiced opposition to the proposed project, Woollen said.
The dispensary would generate additional sales taxes and property taxes for the village, he said.
"The village could definitely use any additional revenue," Woollen said. "Being a medical marijuana dispensary, everybody knows it's highly regulated. I don't see any negative part of that at all."
State regulations requiring abundant security measures at dispensaries made village officials feel at ease, he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Grandview Trustees OK Zoning Change To Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Author: Dean Olsen
Photo Credit: The State Journal-Register
Website: The State Journal-Register
"I don't think there's anything negative about it," Village President Mark Woollen said after trustees Joe Hopkins, Brad Howlett, Leland Rhodes, Janice Bentley, Vickie Kean and Karen Murphy approved the proposed change in Grandview's 1989 zoning ordinance.
The change explicitly allows marijuana dispensaries in Grandview's commercial district along North Grand Avenue East.
Village officials made the change, which was unanimously recommended June 23 by the Grandview Zoning Board of Appeals, in response to Maribis of Springfield's interest in renting space at 2272 North Grand Ave. E. for a medical marijuana dispensary.
Officials from Maribis, owned by Chicago lawyer Laurel Dineff, didn't attend Thursday's meeting. There was no discussion among village trustees before the vote, and no one from the public spoke about the proposed change.
Contacted by The State Journal-Register after the vote, Maribis spokesman Bret Bender said the company is "pleased the village board has welcomed us to their community. We look forward to working with the village board and local law enforcement for years to come."
Zoning approval from village officials was needed for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to allow Maribis to open in Grandview instead of 322 E. Adams St. in downtown Springfield.
The Adams Street location was part of the company's original plans when it was one of two organizations granted dispensary licenses in March 2015 for the Illinois State Police district that includes Sangamon and six other counties.
The other organization, Effingham-based HCI Alternatives, opened in February at 628 E. Adams in Springfield.
Bender said he plans to request a building permit from Sangamon County officials and a change of location from state officials "in a matter of days."
Location changes have been granted by the state for dispensary licenses in the past.
Maribis plans to renovate the one-story, 5,100-square-foot building in Grandview for less than $500,000 and hopes to open it by Labor Day, Bender said.
The original site, which Dineff purchased for $300,000, required unexpected additional renovations. Rather than spend the money and wait longer to open, Dineff looked for another local site, Bender said.
Other than a village resident who complained at the zoning board meeting that a dispensary would reduce the value of her home near the dispensary site, no one has voiced opposition to the proposed project, Woollen said.
The dispensary would generate additional sales taxes and property taxes for the village, he said.
"The village could definitely use any additional revenue," Woollen said. "Being a medical marijuana dispensary, everybody knows it's highly regulated. I don't see any negative part of that at all."
State regulations requiring abundant security measures at dispensaries made village officials feel at ease, he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Grandview Trustees OK Zoning Change To Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Author: Dean Olsen
Photo Credit: The State Journal-Register
Website: The State Journal-Register
