Wilmette To Consider Bringing Recreational Pot To Edens Plaza

WILMETTE, IL — The Wilmette Village Board will consider a draft ordinance Monday to permit the sale of recreational cannabis at Edens Plaza. A final vote is expected at the Sept. 28 Village Board meeting.

The vote will be the culmination over two years of discussions about recreational cannabis in Wilmette. The village initially voted to impose a temporary moratorium on retail cannabis sales through Dec. 31, 2021, but in a Nov. 3, 2020 referendum, 56% of Wilmette residents voted in favor of recreational cannabis sales. The Village Board referred the issue to the Land Use Committee, who acted as a Special Zoning Committee to discuss potential zoning districts suitable for a dispensary, according to a village staff memo.

On June 29, the Land Use Committee voted unanimously that Edens Plaza would be the best location for a dispensary because of what they felt was a favorable location that would not adversely affect traffic, or nearby schools and residences. Additionally, Police Chief Kyle Murphy told the Board in the past that staff have not identified any public safety concerns that might arise from a dispensary.

The LUC recommended requiring a special use permit that would need to be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board that would regulate size, hours of operation, parking, lighting, signage, security, queuring, and more. Violations of the permit could cost up to $7,500, and the Village could suspend the permit if violations persist.

Dispensaries already exist in neighboring Evanston, Northbrook, and Skokie. Dispensaries generate around $1 million a month in Illinois, according to data from the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation presented in the staff memo. The Village would receive five percent of all recreational cannabis sales, or roughly $50,000 a month.

When the Village posted about the event, two people commented favorably, with one writing, “Not a user, but the additional tax dollars are welcome,” and another saying, “Wonderful! Hope this passes. A lot of people will benefit from it being closer to where they live.”

Right below, a user wrote, “Horrible. A village of dopers. How can any good come from this?”

To make your voice head, email publiccomment@wilmette.com.