Darien Marijuana Store Too Close To School?

DARIEN, IL – Some Darien residents are wondering whether a planned marijuana dispensary would be too close to Concord Elementary School.

The school, which is part of Darien District 63, is just northeast of Darien Plaza, 8117 S. Cass Ave. That is where High Haven is expected to open in the spring.

The shopping center already includes Q Bar and Darien Liquor. Unlike the bar, consumption of High Haven's products won't be allowed on the property.

At Monday's City Council meeting, City Administrator Bryon Vana said nothing in state law or city code prohibited a marijuana retailer from being close to a school. That reality is contrary to what Vana labeled as misinformation on social media.

The only provision in state law that addresses distances, he said, was the distance of one dispensary from another.

Last week, the city and High Haven issued a news release announcing the plan for the dispensary at Darien Plaza. The city maintains the dispensary is permitted by right to open in that area, meaning it does not need to go through a public hearing.

Mayor Joseph Marchese said the city has done its due diligence in dealing with High Haven.

"They have an outstanding record as far as business people," he said. "People are saying that we went out and pursued this. We didn't do that. They came to us one Friday. They liked the site, they wanted to be there on that site."

Vana said he heard a concern about the business' name, but he said the city had no authority to regulate names.

Under a 2019 law, towns have a right to determine whether they'll allow marijuana dispensaries. Suburbs such as Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Western Springs, Elmhurst and La Grange have decided against them.