Tinley Park Officials Mull Changes To Local Cannabis Ordinance

By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press:

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Some changes may be coming to the Village of Tinley Park’s cannabis ordinance.

The potential updates to the ordinance were discussed Tuesday, June 29, during the Committee of the Whole meeting. Community Development Director Kimberly Clarke told the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees that there are some possible licensing changes happening at the state level this summer that could lead to as many as 102 new licenses being issued.

“Therefore, the Village is looking at our current ordinances and seeing what is something to consider as far as amending to open up more opportunities for such use in our community,” she said. “The Village’s ordinances basically limits dispensaries to the B2 and B3 commercial zoning districts. Within those districts, there is also other conditions. They are not permitted by right but via a special use. And, in addition to the special use, they cannot be located within 400 feet of any public or private nursery schools, preschool, secondary school or daycare center. They also may not be located within 100 feet of the property line of a preexisting property for residential purposes.

“We’ve limited the corridors to only those properties that have frontage on 159th Street, Harlem [Avenue] and LaGrange [Road]. They must be a standalone building with no co-tenancy with other uses allowed. And, in addition, they must meet required parking based on their needs.”

Clarke said the Village has had discussions with dispensary owners that are interested in locating a business in the area. The building sizes range, but one was looking for a minimum of 6,000 square feet that could be up to 12,000 square feet.

She also said there are currently properties in the Village that meet the requirements set forth by the Village Board. However, those properties are not willing to accommodate a cannabis business at this point in time.

Clarke said the Village staff is reviewing options, with suggested revisions to the ordinance that would include: removing the standalone building requirement; expanding the zoning districts to include B1; and opening it up to the Office Restricted Industrial (ORI), general manufacturing or mixed-use Devan Drive zoning districts.

Trustee Michael Mueller offered support for the changes, stating that he was in favor of removing the standalone building requirement and opening up the zoning districts.

“I think we let the market kind of decide where it wants to go,” he said. “By opening it up, I think that would be a good step in the right direction.”

Clarke said she felt she received enough feedback from the board members to move forward. She said her next step would be to post a notice for a public hearing at a future Plan Commission meeting to remove the standalone building requirement and corridor requirements, as well as to open it up to the additional zoning districts.

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