While acknowledging changes could occur in the future, the Lake Forest City Council has, for now, prohibited the establishment of businesses related to recreational marijuana.
At their Oct. 7 meeting, council members unanimously supported a plan commission recommendation that changed three sections of the city’s zoning code to forbid a cannabis-related business from opening in the city.
Aldermen signaled a preference for the move at a July workshop when referring the matter to the plan commission, which then issued their recommendation at their Sept. 11 meeting.
The plan commission "felt it was not appropriate for the city to be out in front of this,” Community Development Director Catherine Czerniak said.
The council took the action following the passage earlier this year of a new state law allowing the use of recreational marijuana starting on Jan. 1. But the legislation allowed individual communities to prohibit dispensaries, cultivation centers or similar businesses in their town limits.
[Most read] Chicago Marathon 2019: Watch the race live and get updates from the 26.2-mile course »
Czerniak said the city had been getting calls from businesses and inquiring about Lake Forest’s position on the matter.
Ald. Jim Preschlack, 3rd, did not view the potential $95,000 in estimated tax revenue the city could potentially receive as reason to allow marijuana-related businesses in Lake Forest.
“I don’t we think we should spend a ton of time talking about something that is an incremental revenue of $95,000 and the costs are pretty tangible in terms of impact to the health of the community and the brand (of the city),” Preschlack said, according to a video of the meeting.
Under council rules, Mayor George Pandaleon did not have to vote, but he later expressed his support.
“The council received and reviewed extensive research about the long-term effects of cannabis use as it relates to both individuals and communities, and particularly as it effects young adults,” Pandaleon wrote in an email. “This research is quite sobering. The council voted unanimously that Lake Forest should not be a place where we encourage the use of recreational cannabis by permitting retail sales, and I agree with this decision.”
[Most read] Chicago Marathon 2019: Course map, where to watch the race and how to avoid traffic congestion »
The only audience member speaking out was Peter Bensinger, a former administrator of the DEA who served under three U.S. presidents. He complimented the council’s action.
“Lake Forest doesn’t need nor should have pot shops in our community,” Bensinger said. “What that would mean is more availability of marijuana and what that would mean is more use by teenagers and children.”
Bensinger also feared sales by gang members and increased traffic accidents.
“This community is safe compared to others and you don’t want to attract buyers and sellers of marijuana that would come,” he added.
Czerniak did say the issue could be reconsidered in the future as the plan commission recognized there could be changes in both federal and state law regarding marijuana.
Czerniak noted that she and Police Chief Karl Walldorf are participating in a Lake County task force examining the new law and how it can be enacted and implemented by other communities in the area.
“It will be interesting to see the experience that others have,” Czerniak said.
Source & Credits - https://www.chicagotribune.com
At their Oct. 7 meeting, council members unanimously supported a plan commission recommendation that changed three sections of the city’s zoning code to forbid a cannabis-related business from opening in the city.
Aldermen signaled a preference for the move at a July workshop when referring the matter to the plan commission, which then issued their recommendation at their Sept. 11 meeting.
The plan commission "felt it was not appropriate for the city to be out in front of this,” Community Development Director Catherine Czerniak said.
The council took the action following the passage earlier this year of a new state law allowing the use of recreational marijuana starting on Jan. 1. But the legislation allowed individual communities to prohibit dispensaries, cultivation centers or similar businesses in their town limits.
[Most read] Chicago Marathon 2019: Watch the race live and get updates from the 26.2-mile course »
Czerniak said the city had been getting calls from businesses and inquiring about Lake Forest’s position on the matter.
Ald. Jim Preschlack, 3rd, did not view the potential $95,000 in estimated tax revenue the city could potentially receive as reason to allow marijuana-related businesses in Lake Forest.
“I don’t we think we should spend a ton of time talking about something that is an incremental revenue of $95,000 and the costs are pretty tangible in terms of impact to the health of the community and the brand (of the city),” Preschlack said, according to a video of the meeting.
Under council rules, Mayor George Pandaleon did not have to vote, but he later expressed his support.
“The council received and reviewed extensive research about the long-term effects of cannabis use as it relates to both individuals and communities, and particularly as it effects young adults,” Pandaleon wrote in an email. “This research is quite sobering. The council voted unanimously that Lake Forest should not be a place where we encourage the use of recreational cannabis by permitting retail sales, and I agree with this decision.”
[Most read] Chicago Marathon 2019: Course map, where to watch the race and how to avoid traffic congestion »
The only audience member speaking out was Peter Bensinger, a former administrator of the DEA who served under three U.S. presidents. He complimented the council’s action.
“Lake Forest doesn’t need nor should have pot shops in our community,” Bensinger said. “What that would mean is more availability of marijuana and what that would mean is more use by teenagers and children.”
Bensinger also feared sales by gang members and increased traffic accidents.
“This community is safe compared to others and you don’t want to attract buyers and sellers of marijuana that would come,” he added.
Czerniak did say the issue could be reconsidered in the future as the plan commission recognized there could be changes in both federal and state law regarding marijuana.
Czerniak noted that she and Police Chief Karl Walldorf are participating in a Lake County task force examining the new law and how it can be enacted and implemented by other communities in the area.
“It will be interesting to see the experience that others have,” Czerniak said.
Source & Credits - https://www.chicagotribune.com