ABOVE: Danville Planning and Zoning Commission members Troy Savalick, Michael Hall, Pete Goodwin, and Aaron Troglia
By a 3 to 1 vote at their Thursday evening (Dec 7th) meeting, the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a change in the zoning requirements for Cannabis. Currently, any dispensary has to be at least one-half mile from any residential area, thereby limiting the dispensaries to one general Danville location, the Lynch Road corridor. Right now, Sunnyside is operating there, and Seven Point of Illinois is under construction. However, two other proposed locations off Lynch Road and near I-74 were voted down.
Four of the six active commission members were present at the meeting. Troy Savalick, Pete Goodwin, and Aaron Troglia all voted yes, while Michael Hall voted no. This passage and recommendation means that a simple majority vote will be needed by the Danville City Council at their December 19th meeting to make the zoning change official, allowing the possibility of dispensaries in the B2 and B3 zoning districts.
Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk reminds everyone that any potential dispensary that wants to come to Danville would still need a special use permit, and this “yes” vote is not a license for a bunch of dispensaries to simply show up and set up shop.
AUDIO: The special use permit process being proposed means that these organizations still need to come to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for consideration, no matter what.
There will most likely be significant discussion among City Council members prior to the scheduled vote on December 19th; which is also the same meeting where approval votes on the new city budget and tax levy are scheduled.
(1st Picture) Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk; (2nd Picture) Kacie Jones explains plans for a dance studio at 209 Avenue C.
A side note mentioned during Thursday evening’s commission meeting was that the two dispensaries already approved in Danville, and any others in the future at this point, are recreational facilities only. A consumer may certainly obtain advice from a doctor before making a purchase, but prescriptions from doctors are not taken at the these facilities. As Logan Cronk explained, the state has not approved the issuance of more medical cannabis licenses for quite some time. Cronk says the state recognizes that people can use recreational ones for medicinal purposes, but full medicinal dispensaries receive certain tax breaks. Cronk says the closest medicinal facility is in the Champaign area.
In other action by the Planning and Zoning Commission; a zoning change to allow for a dance studio, and more, at 209 Avenue C was approved. Applicant Kacie Jones explains her plans.
AUDIO: We’re looking to open a tumbling and cheer studio, to be determined the dates. We have to finalize some of the zoning and closing of the building. Hopefully, a spring of 2024 opening date.
The building at 209 Avenue C used to be the Linne Machine facility.
