(ABOVE) Seven Point of Illinois’ Brad Zerman and Vanessa Dotson chat (back) while Mariworks LLC co-owner Laura Jaramillo Bernal (front) addresses the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission.
By a unanimous 4-0 vote by members present, the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission voted Thursday (June 1st) evening against recommending that the Danville City Council allow another Cannabis Dispensary to build along the Lynch Road corridor.
Currently, Sunnyside operates a dispensary on the east side of Lynch Road, and Seven Point of Illinois is preparing to break ground on the west side of Lynch Road. Parkway Dispensaries, who had been recommended by the Commission but was voted down by the Council, is now building along Georgetown Road in Tilton.
Vanessa Dotson, Lobbyist Frank McNeil, and CEO Brad Zerman state Seven Point of Illinois’ view on the issue.
The latest licensee asking for permission was Mariworks out of Chicago. Because of the commission’s non-recommendation vote, Mariworks will now need a super-majority from the City Council. The issue could potentially be on the agenda for the Council’s June 20th meeting. (The City Council’s next meeting is June 6th).
The four commission members in attendance; Pete Goodwin, Michael Hall, Tammy Wilson, and Adam Brown; all seemed to agree with the point Seven Point CEO Brad Zerman made to Neuhoff Media last week and again while in attendance Thursday night; that the city should change its ordinance, and allow Cannabis dispensaries to go other places in Danville besides along Lynch Road. Zerman says the east side is fine with two dispensaries; now work on the rest of it.
nuEra CEO Bob Fitzsimmons and Mariworks LLC co-owner Laura Jaramillo Bernal state their points. (3rd picture) While City Engineer Sam Cole sets up the screen; Commission members Tammy Wilson, Michael Hall, Adam Brown, and Pete Goodwin prepare to watch presentation.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: The city has done an amazing job setting up east Danville to be a good revenue source for Danville. Let’s expand that. Let’s not hurt the businesses that are there. Let’s bring more restaurants. Let’s bring retail to the area.
Lobbyist Frank McNeil spoke on behalf of Seven Point. He compared putting too many dispensaries in one spot to what happened years ago with too many tech companies often concentrated in one spot.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: It doesn’t matter where you are. All over this country, we’re having a colossal collapse in certain kinds of industries. And I don’t see any difference in the cannabis industry. That could happen right here in Danville. When you put too many close together, it will happen.
Mariworks co-owner Laura Jaramillo Bernal said they will evaluate the situation before deciding if they will campaign before the City Council for a super-majority vote on June 20th.
Meanwhile Bob Fitzsimmons, CEO of nuEra, who has a capital and operating agreement with Mariworks, spoke strongly of nuEra’s locations in Champaign – Urbana and their reputation as a medical cannabis source. But that did not sway the commission.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Public officials decide for reasons they think are appropriate. I think this was an issue of proximity. I made the point about medical. We feel very strongly about it. But it doesn’t mean, necessarily, that that’s going to win the day.
As for what’s next for Seven Point, Zerman says Reed Construction is due for a mobilization date of the building site at 380 Eastgate Drive on July 18th.
