Warrenville agrees to allow recreational pot sales, but only one shop

Recreational marijuana sales will be allowed in Warrenville, but only one dispensary can open in the city.

The city council voted 5-3 Monday to approve an ordinance allowing the sale of pot under the Illinois' Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, which will make recreational use and possession by adults legal across the state in less than a month.

As part of Warrenville's ordinance, the city will issue only one special use permit for operation of an adult-use cannabis dispensary. To get the permit, a dispensary owner would need to go through an approval process and meet various requirements, including security provisions and hours of operation.

Mayor David Brummel, who voted in favor of the ordinance, said the restrictions will make it difficult for a dispensary to open in Warrenville. If the city gets one, he said, it won't be a mom-and-pop operation.

"It's hard for me to envision someone making that kind of investment with very strict controls who isn't going to follow those controls," Brummel said. "They're going to protect their investment. So it's going to be a clean operation."

Still, three aldermen - Kathryn Davolos, Stuart Aschauer and Robert Wilson - voted against the ordinance. One alderman was absent.

"I don't see the benefits outweighing what it could cost us," Davolos said. "So my vote is to opt out."

Davolos stated a variety of reasons why she doesn't want recreational cannabis sold in Warrenville. One of her concerns is that a dispensary could put a greater demand on the city's police department.

"I think there will be extra burden, task, responsibility on them with a dispensary," she said. "Logically, there's going to be more people and more cars driving to a dispensary. That's going to have to be monitored."

And with many DuPage municipalities banning recreational marijuana sales, Davolos said dispensaries will be busy in towns that allow them.

But Alderman Jeff Krischel, who supported the ordinance, said Warrenville probably will see increased costs associated with legal marijuana "whether we have a dispensary or not."

Krischel said the city should secure a way to help pay for those costs.

"It also makes sense to me to find some diversity in tax revenue," he said.

Under state law, towns that permit dispensaries are allowed to place local sales taxes of up to 3% on sales. Warrenville will impose the full 3%.

In addition, Warrenville receives a 1% state sales tax and a 1.25% home-rule sales tax. As a result, the city will receive a total sales tax of 5.25% on gross recreational cannabis sales.

According to one estimate, the city could collect $400,000 to $600,000 a year in tax revenue from a dispensary. But city officials acknowledge the actual amount could be less.

Aschauer said he doesn't see any value in having a dispensary in Warrenville.

"I don't think it will help property values," he said. "I don't think it will encourage other businesses to move here."

Before voting, the council heard from three residents who support the sale of recreational marijuana in the city and seven others against it.

Resident Annette Voss said she believes a dispensary in Warrenville would be detrimental to the community. And while recreational pot will be legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, Voss said, "I do not want my city to profit from it."