Council vote on Danville’s 3rd dispensary scheduled for Tuesday evening; Seven Point CEO says it’s unfair to those already committed to Danville

A Danville City Council vote on Chicago-based Mariworks, LLC establishing a nuEra cannabis dispensary south of the I-74 – Lynch Road interchange is scheduled for the Tuesday evening, June 18, council meeting. It was on June 6 that the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission voted to send the project to the full Council with a positive recommendation.

It was last year that Mariworks was denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission for a proposed dispensary on the west side of Lynch Road, north of I-74; the main issue being the concern about too many dispensaries in a general area. At that time, Sunnyside already existed on the east side of Lynch; and Seven Point of Illinois, now open, had been approved for the west side of Lynch.

This time, however, in addition to a different location; Mariworks’ plan includes a Casey’s truck stop; Casey’s contributing to the cost of establishing the brand new infrastructure that would be needed in this region. The plan calls for other future businesses to be included as well.

Brad Zerman, CEO of Seven Point of Illinois, demonstrates some products just before Seven Point opens; says considering a third dispensary in Danville is unfair to both Seven Point and Sunnyside; and the prior commitment both made to Danville.

Brad Zerman, CEO of Seven Point of Illinois, says he hopes the entire city council sees some problems there. He says above all; the addition of a third Danville dispensary; fourth in the region when including the Parkway dispensary in Tilton, is not fair to those who have already been to Danville.

AUDIO: There will be no increase in the market for people purchasing cannabis. Existing stores that committed to Danville early on will suffer. Sunnyside and Seven Point employees will likely suffer. nuEra will only absorb part of our activities, part of Sunnyside’s activities, which cannot be replaced. Employees’ jobs are at stake.

Zerman said he realizes that a new truck stop is a shiny object that attracts the Council’s attention; but he believes a new truck stop should be considered alone, not with another dispensary.

Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk says all the other things that could come up are currently more in the background.

AUDIO: What’s actually within reach is the special use permit for another adult-use cannabis dispensary. They should review the zoning of the property, how it fits into the property; and the other potential development to come afterward is just a plus.

Tuesday evening’s (June 18) Danville City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m.