(ABOVE) Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk explains a new proposal for the zoning laws for cannabis dispensaries to the Danville City Council Public Services Committee.
During Tuesday (Sept 26th) evening’s Danville City Council Public Services Committee meeting, Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk presented a proposed change to the current zoning laws concerning where cannabis dispensaries can be placed.
Currently, the dispensaries can only be placed along the Lynch Road corridor, mainly because of the requirement that they must be at least one-half mile from any residential areas. During the course of this year, two candidates wanting to build new dispensaries were turned down. Parkway was voted down by the full City Council. Mariworks failed to receive a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, and then withdrew their petition.
The consensus among council members was that due to Sunnyside already being in operation along the Lynch Road corridor, and Seven Point of Illinois in the process of creating a second location; no others would be welcomed in, and therefore Danville should consider being more flexible. That point was accentuated by Parkway’s grand opening at their Tilton location this past weekend.
As Cronk explains, the “half-mile away from residential areas” was struck from the new proposal for discussion purposes. The city could at least consider other areas, but would still decide on a case-by-case basis.
AUDIO: Now the dispensaries are cornered (with) consideration only on Lynch Road and Eastgate Drive; not anywhere else in the City of Danville. So, (it would be) the same review process. If the City Council does not agree with a given application location, they still have the right to say no.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr stated that while he certainly does not desire ten cannabis dispensaries within Danville’s borders, he believes the city must look at updating its rules and being more flexible, with all the potential state cannabis dispensary licenses within this area. And echoing what Cronk said, both the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council would give thumbs up or thumbs down to each proposal.
AUDIO: With a special use permit, we will still have control over where they go. It’s not like it’s a free for all and someone could just build a dispensary anywhere. They would have to go through the Planning and Zoning Commission first, and then they would come through the City Council. Ultimately, the council would have the say on where they’re located, and I think that’s the correct move.
Cronk’s proposal will most likely be discussed at the next Danville City Council Public Works Committee meeting, and then go before the full council.
