Public Hearing Set on Pot Regulations in LITH

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — The public will get to sound off Monday on whether restrictions should be placed on the sale of recreational marijuana in town once it becomes legal on Jan. 1. The village of Lake in the Hills will hold a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 14, to consider changes to the village's zoning ordinance.

The village's zoning commission will consider an amendment, which would place restrictions on marijuana businesses. The commission meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at village hall, 600 Harvest Gate.

"Members of the public who wish to express an opinion will be given their opportunity at the hearing," according to a news release from the village of Lake in the Hills.

Recreational marijuana will become legal in the state of Illinois starting on Jan. 1. The legislation does not allow municipalities to prohibit the use or possession of cannabis within its boundaries, but does allow them to establish reasonable restrictions on businesses through local zoning regulations.

“The public hearing will be limited to restrictions on cannabis-related businesses,” Fred Mullard, community services director, said. “The ability to regulate possession and use has been established by the state and we do not have the ability to change what they have already approved.”

The proposed zoning changes would restrict cannabis businesses to the village’s most intensive business and manufacturing districts. The state has already established many operating limitations on these businesses restricting licensing, operating hours, security, staffing, and who may access the business, according to a news release.

The state also restricts the total number of licenses by region, so it is possible that no cannabis business will operate within the village.

The village Board of Trustees approved a Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax at their September 26 meeting and the proposed text amendments will be included as a part of the Planning and Zoning Meeting agenda packet, which will be published on Friday, October 11 on the village website at lith.org/meetings.