Western Springs Area Will Oppose Medical Pot Shop: Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs is considering changing its zoning code to allow the possibility of a medical marijuana store southwest of Wolf Road and 55th Street and other commercial areas.

But a trustee said his neighborhood near Wolf and 55th won't want such a business near their homes.

The probability of a medical marijuana shop coming to Western Springs is low.

In 2014, the state enacted a law requiring towns to create zoning rules for allowing medical marijuana businesses. A dozen years later, the village has no such provisions in its code.

After the state legalized recreational marijuana in 2019, all 55 medical marijuana dispensaries moved to also selling the recreational version. Officials said it isn't considered profitable to only sell medical marijuana.

In a 2020 advisory referendum, more than 60 percent of voters indicated they did not want recreational marijuana stores in town. Municipalities have a choice.

Late last year, the Western Springs Plan Commission recommended limiting the possibility of a medical marijuana business to a strip mall southwest of Wolf and 55th. The staff urged the Village Board to extend that to certain types of commercial zones village-wide.

At Monday's board meeting, Trustee Phil Nawrocki, who lives in the Ridgewood neighborhood, suggested that medical marijuana shops be limited to downtown and not allowed in the strip mall near his house. He said a smoke shop has opened in the mall, despite residents' opposition.

"I already know that I'm going to have many people asking me questions and saying there could be a medical marijuana store down the street from where their kids are," Nawrocki said. "They ride past there all the time with their kids, my kids included in that. And they'll look over and say, 'What's that?'"

A medical marijuana store, along with the smoke shop, would add to traffic, Nawrocki said. He also said a proposed neighboring townhome subdivision, which he opposed, will contribute to the congestion.

Nawrocki acknowledged the likelihood of a medical marijuana store was low, but he added, "Things happen."

Trustees agreed to discuss the issue at a later meeting.