A cannabis company that already has a cultivation business in Franklin Park that supplies other dispensaries, is moving closer to opening one of its own in the village — likely moving into a space that is currently a pancake restaurant.
“We ship across the state and it would be nice for some of these things to stay in Franklin Park,” said David Michaud, a representative of the cannabis company CW Dispensary 2 LLC.
At a public hearing Wednesday, the Franklin Park Zoning Board of Appeals voted to recommend for approval a request by CW Dispensary 2 LLC for a conditional use permit to open an adult-use recreational cannabis dispensary at 3147 N. Mannheim Road.
Louis Pappas, of Glenview, owns the property, which is currently home to Lulu Belle’s Pancake House. But, the property owner is looking to sell or lease the building to CW, according to a notice that Cannect Wellness – the parent company of CW Dispensary 2 LLC – sent to residents and business owners near the address.
About 20 residents attended the public hearing, which was held in the police station community room. All of the speakers from the public who weighed in said they oppose the dispensary due to traffic concerns and losing Lulu Belle’s.
“The traffic … is going to be horrendous,” said resident Christopher May. “That is not the place for this type of traffic. We’re not going to be prepared for it. Do I think Franklin Park could use a dispensary? Sure. With the money that it’ll bring in, that’s a no brainer. … It’s not that we don’t need one, but we don’t need one there.”
But, representatives of CW Dispensary had a document from the property owner agreeing to allow the retail cannabis business to open at the location. That would mean Lulu Belle’s would either move elsewhere or shutter altogether.
Village attorney Ryan Morton said the ZBA’s task was straightforward.
While the public hearing was a requirement as part of the cannabis company’s permit request, village officials cautioned that the point of the meeting and the ZBA members’ vote was to consider whether the dispensary would fit within the current zoning code.
The village had, years ago, passed an ordinance allowing cannabis shops in Franklin Park after owners secured conditional use permits. So, the commission was voting only on whether the shop fit within existing zoning laws, which it did.
The ZBA’s vote is advisory to the Franklin Park Village Board, which has the final say on the conditional use permit request. Following the vote Wednesday night, the issue is expected to go before village trustees in the coming weeks or months.
Still, residents urged the commission to reject the bid.
“If you’re going to open up a retail cannabis store there, what security do I have from the business that no one is going to jump over my fence to get on their property,” asked Andrea Cesaro, who lives near the location, on Lincoln Street. “Are we going to have additional police presence?”
Michaud said the cannabis company owners would install 6-foot privacy fences around the dispensary’s perimeter and have onsite security – in addition to surveillance cameras, as mandated by state law.
“We want to make sure we’re good neighbors to our neighbors,” Michaud said.
Other concerns, though, went unanswered by the ZBA or CW, specifically traffic. Residents of Lincoln Street expressed worries that dispensary customers would cut through their street, an otherwise relatively quiet, one-way residential thoroughfare, and present safety issues.
Mannheim Road is a major, heavily-traveled roadway that runs north and south through the village and neighboring west suburbs. It leads to O’Hare Airport.
Michaud pointed out his company already has a cultivation facility in Franklin Park that opened in 2022. To date, the company has only been growing and transporting cannabis to other dispensaries and this location would be the first dispensary in the west suburb.
“I think we’ve been operating without incident since we started and we’re very proud of that,” Michaud said.
He said the cultivation business is regulated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the police. According to Michaud, the company has a good relationship with regulators, and would like to sell closer to home.
At the end of the hourlong meeting, the ZBA ruled the proposal met all state and local zoning, and other requirements, and recommended the conditional use be approved.
Michaud said he wasn’t sure when the dispensary would, especially since the permit request still must get Village Board approval.
So far, the mayor has signaled support for having a cannabis dispensary in the village – especially for convenience.
“People wouldn’t have to drive to Melrose Park and Elmwood Park or the other neighboring towns to get their cannabis,” mayor Barrett Pedersen previously told Pioneer Press.
He said tax revenue to Franklin Park generated from sales at the dispensary would likely be used for operating expenses, pension payments and infrastructure improvements.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer. Freelancer Jessi Virtusio contributed.