St. Charles aldermen approve move of marijuana dispensary
Even though some St. Charles aldermen disagreed a year ago with the idea of allowing recreational marijuana sales within the city limits, they all agreed Monday that the Zen Leaf dispensary should move from an office complex into a former Jared Jewelry store on Main Street.
With the unanimous approval of a request from Healthway Services of West Illinois LLC, the operator of Zen Leaf, the dispensary will move to the Main Street Commons shopping complex at the southeast corner of Kirk Road and Main Street as soon as state officials allow the change of address on the license.
"I have been advocating for you to move ever since this all began," said Ward 5 Alderman Maureen Lewis, one of the "no" votes in last May's 6-4 city council decision to allow recreational marijuana sales. "So what I'm voting on here tonight is that you finally listened and decided that you had to get out of that spot because it wasn't working."
Since opening in 2015 as a medical marijuana dispensary, Zen Leaf has operated out of the St. Charles Commons office complex at 3714 Illinois Ave. The location attracted complaints from tenants who said a marijuana dispensary was inappropriate for the site.
Lewis and fellow aldermen Art Lemke, Rita Payleitner and Ron Silkaitis voted last May against Zen Leaf's expansion into recreational marijuana sales, but each approved the move to the shuttered jewelry store at 3691 E. Main St.
Because a city ordinance allows only one dispensary east of the Fox River, Zen Leaf must close its current location before opening the new one. According to state law, the earliest Zen Leaf could move is April of 2022, but there are bills currently in the state legislature that would allow the address change this spring.
If a move isn't allowed until 2022, Zen Leaf will need to get an extension from the city council on a sundown provision that dictates the site at the office complex must close in November of this year if a suitable alternative location isn't found.
Zen Leaf officials, though, said they've entered into a long-term lease agreement at Main Street Commons and plan to immediately begin remodeling so they're ready to open later this spring.
"Great location," said Ward 4 Alderman Lora Vitek. "And one of the largest sales tax providers in our city. With you moving, I'm sure that's just going to grow."