Bartlett panel still considering two marijuana dispensaries across street from each other

Two proposed marijuana dispensaries across the street from each other in Bartlett remain under review by the village’s planning and zoning commission, even though the panel previously endorsed one of them for approval.

Both businesses are in contention to become the village’s first dispensary.

Village trustees on Sept. 1 agreed to allow Good Behavior Bartlett to open a 1,495-square-foot recreational marijuana dispensary at the northeast corner of Route 59 and Army Trail Road.

However, the owners of the dispensary also want the ability to sell medical marijuana. To do that, they would need a separate zoning approval from Bartlett before taking their application to the state.

Meanwhile, Mindfully Planted wants to open a 2,776-square-foot recreational marijuana dispensary as part of a larger redevelopment of a former CVS pharmacy site at the southeast corner of Route 59 and Army Trail.

But because Illinois law prohibits marijuana businesses to be within 1,500 feet of each other, normally the first successful applicant gets a license from the state unless a rare exception to the rule is identified.

Bartlett itself has no local regulations for a maximum number of dispensaries or minimum distance between them.

When Good Behavior Bartlett first prepared its applications to the village and the state, Illinois dispensaries had to apply to be either a medical or a recreational dispensary.

But after a recent state law change allowed dispensaries to sell both medical and recreational marijuana, Good Behavior Bartlett decided to apply for a license to offer medical marijuana as well.

This week, village trustees referred that new request back to the planning and zoning commission for a hearing on Oct. 1.

Bartlett Planning and Development Services Director Kristy Stone said the owners of Good Behavior Bartlett already are applying for their recreational dispensary license from the state.

Meanwhile, the proposal from Mindfully Planted is scheduled to be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission during a special meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.

If approved, the Mindfully Planted dispensary would join two other prospective tenants on the site — a coffee shop and a Lindy’s gas station with a convenience store, quick service restaurant and video gaming area.

Depending on the commission’s recommendation, the proposal could go to either the village board for potential final approval on Oct. 6 or the committee of the whole meeting for further discussion later that night, Stone said.

Last month, Trustee Raymond Deyne expressed his own concerns about two pot dispensaries being close to each other. He said he wouldn’t support the Lindy’s project specifically because of it.

epeterson@dailyherald.com