A public hearing is scheduled for the coming days in Franklin Park for the public to weigh in on a request to bring a cannabis dispensary to town – replacing a pancake restaurant currently at the site.
Lulu Belle’s Pancake House, at 3147 N. Mannheim Road in the west suburb, could be transformed into a cannabis dispensary if approved – ultimately – by the Village Board. One of the first stops on that journey, however, is a public hearing before the Franklin Park Zoning Board of Appeals.
Franklin Park mayor Barrett Pedersen. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Nicholas Walny, Franklin Park’s director of community development and zoning, told Pioneer Press that the village sent legal notice to 60 property owners – both businesses and residents – within 250 feet of the address, informing them of the public hearing Aug. 7.
“This is not related to anyone who runs Lulu Belle’s. This cannabis dispensary would take the place of Lulu Belle’s,” Walny said.
According to Walny, Louis Pappas, of Glenview, owns the property, which has been for sale for several years and currently is leased to Lulu Belle’s.
The legal notice states that public comment and testimony will be taken concerning a conditional use for an adult-use cannabis dispensing organization at that site, which is in the C-3 General Commercial District zone.
Walny estimated there are between 50 businesses to 100 businesses in the district, which spans Grand Avenue to Seymour Avenue on Mannheim Road, and also includes a portion on Grand Avenue and a small industrial part on Belmont Avenue.
“Restaurant, hotels, retail uses – those are primarily the ones that are in that district,” Walny said.
Mayor Barrett Pedersen told Pioneer Press that a benefit of a cannabis dispensary in the village is convenience.
“People wouldn’t have to drive to Melrose Park and Elmwood Park or the other neighboring towns to get their cannabis,” Pedersen said.
Illinois made it legal starting Jan. 1, 2020 for adults age 21 and older to possess and consume small amounts of recreational cannabis. With the law also came rules for municipalities to impose taxes on dispensaries.
Under the Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax, towns like Franklin Park may tax cannabis sales up to 3%. Municipalities have welcomed the additional tax income as new revenue to fund different expenses.
While some municipalities have said no to allowing cannabis dispensaries in their towns, since the law took effect, many have green lighted the businesses and the revenue they generate for municipalities.
According to Pedersen, many years ago the village put a referendum on the ballot asking residents if they wanted a cannabis dispensary in Franklin Park and people voted “yes.”
Pedersen said tax revenue from the potential cannabis dispensary would be treated the same as taxes from other businesses in the village.
“I’m assuming it gets put into a general fund used for operating expenses. Some of it may be used for pension payments. Some of it may be used for infrastructure improvements,” the mayor said.
In a July 5 letter to local stakeholders, CW Dispensary 2 LLC – which is requesting to open the dispensary that would replace Lulu Belle’s – stated it was notifying neighboring property owners about the public hearing, because the entity has entered into an agreement to lease and/or purchase the subject property from the existing owner.
Walny explained that CW Dispensary 2 is an entity of Cannect Wellness, which has been operating an industrial cannabis facility at 3700 Sandra St. for up to two years in Franklin Park.
“The Zoning Board of Appeals could approve it or they could continue it to the next meeting if they wanted further discussion, or they could deny it if they didn’t meet the standards that are required,” said Walny about the cannabis company’s request.
Walny said that according to village code regarding adult-use cannabis dispensing organizations, there are 13 requirements to meet before a dispensary may open, including: No onsite consumption or drive-through, open to the public between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. only, operating in a manner that prevents odor from impacting neighboring premises or properties and maintaining adequate security.
According to Walny, if the zoning board makes a recommendation at the Aug. 7 meeting that the cannabis company’s request be approved, the next step would be going before the Village Board at its Sept. 3 meeting. Zoning commissioners make a recommendation but it is village trustees who have the final word on request.
According to Walny, the area surrounding 3147 N. Mannheim Road includes a long-vacant Pappas-owned building just south of the location, houses to the east, Belmont Avenue to the north, another vacant building and a KFC fast food restaurant farther south.
“This is a private development and a private transaction between two private parties. Because they are going through this process, the village has to abide by the current codes in our Code of Ordinances. We’re here to support that process and allow the public to speak if they want to,” Walny said.
A non-related cannabis dispensary was approved by the Village Board in November 2022 as part of proposed development by Lee Fry at 3010 Mannheim Road. But Walny said plans for California-based Catalyst Cannabis, an A&W fast food restaurant and a to-be-determined third tenant stalled after the developer’s death.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer. Pioneer Press staff contributed.
