Peoria Standard

The city council of East Peoria has approved increasing the number of licenses for recreational-marijuana dispensaries from two to three.  

During its Dec. 6 meeting, which was streamed on Facebook, council noted that although it had initially agreed to permit three licenses, a business that had been granted an initial permit withdrew so the number of permits was reduced to two. 

Commissioner Mark Hill said it is important for council to finalize how many licenses it will permit and where dispensaries can be located, noting current restrictions of at least 1,000 feet from schools and child-care facilities. He stated because of the restriction, "you see a collection of (dispensaries) appearing right here around us, right here in Levy District."

"So I guess my point is," Hill said at the meeting, "I think we whether we we pass this tonight, we need to start thinking long and hard. (D)o we want East Peoria to be known as the dispensary capital of of the east side of the river? Or do we, do we not? And I just bring that up, but I'm not opposed to this."

Council agreed to add a license then debated whether to grant the permit to a proposed business to be located at 406 W. Camp St., the site of a former bank. Hill expressed concerns about a dispensary moving into the former bank building, but after discussing the lack of interest from other parties in the building, which has been vacant for years, and because no other zoning or code requirements were unmet, the council awarded the license to the business.

The petitioner seeking the additional license attended the council meeting to answer any possible questions from the council, he was not asked to speak.