Mount Prospect deciding next move on recreational pot sales

Now that Mount Prospect residents have voted in favor of recreational marijuana sales in town, the village board is preparing to decide what to do next.

Trustees on Wednesday agreed to discuss changing the village zoning code to allow recreational pot sales as a conditional use in some areas of town. A public hearing is expected Dec. 1.

The agreement came after an advisory referendum Tuesday in which voters, by a 11,651 to 6,699 margin, said the village should overturn its ban on recreational pot businesses.

Mayor Arlene Juracek said a zoning ordinance allowing those businesses would require 15 days notice prior to a public hearing, so no action can be taken when the board meets Tuesday.

"I'm not preordaining or speculating on what action we must take. However, we did indicate that if we had the referendum, we would consider its results, and this is an avenue to do that," Juracek said.

"We will talk about process next week. Not necessarily substance."

The village board, rather than the planning and zoning commission, will conduct the public hearing.

"The zoning board has been through it already, so we don't need to slow it down with zoning and then village board," Juracek said.

Making the retail sale of recreational marijuana a conditional use would give the village control over the location of the seller.

The village's medical dispensary, New Age Care at 2015 E. Euclid Ave., has a license for recreational sales and has expressed an interest in making it a part of its business.

However, Juracek said the location may not have enough parking to accommodate recreational sales. New Age can't seem to cut a deal with its landlord to get additional parking, she added.

"So they would be looking for a more accommodating location," Juracek said.

The village's community development department will work with New Age on finding a new location, she added, but state law limits how close a pot business can be to schools or similar operations.