A proposed medical marijuana dispensary on Naperville’s west side was met with concerns about parking and impact on neighboring businesses this week.
Greenway Herbal Care would like to open an 1,800-square-foot facility in a commercial building at 424 Fort Hill Drive.
Because the area is zoned as a commercial district, the company will need city approval, unlike another proposed facility about a mile away on Quincy Avenue, which is in an industrial area.
Greenway CEO Nilesh Khot, who still must get a license from the state to dispense medical marijuana, told the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission his facility would be open Monday through Saturday and would only sell cannabis, not paraphernalia. He would donate six percent of profits to local community organizations.
Khot said he expects about 30 customers per day, each of whom would be there about 10 to 15 minutes.
Only patients or caregivers with the proper paperwork from the state would be allowed inside, he said. His attorney, Michael Ek, also said there would be an extensive security system that included armed guards, bulletproof glass, cameras and fingerprint access to the vault.
“I’m told the security system we use far exceeds any security system that’s used by any jewelry store in the area,” Ek said. “It’s superior to any pharmacy in the area. Our security system rivals that of casinos.”
However, Commissioner Kamala Martinez, questioned such high levels of security.
“You guys have gone above and beyond to make it safe, but I think what concerns me, what makes me not sleep so well at night is that you have to have that much security in that building and … there’s a reason you’re putting it in,” she said.
For several commissioners, parking was a top concern. The city requires the facility to have nine parking spaces based on its size, but each unit in the building on Fort Hill is allotted five unreserved spaces in the 244-space lot. Ek said during the day 70 percent of the spaces are vacant.
However, commissioners said they were looking for more guarantee that spaces would be available, especially if the dispensary does more business than expected.
“I have a tremendous problem with the anticipated parking demand,” Commissioner Patricia Meyer said.
Joe Harrington, who owns a unit in the building, agreed.
“We must use the worst-case scenario not the best-case scenario,” he said.
Mark Levy from Sequoia Realty Group also expressed parking concerns on behalf the condo association. In addition, he said, the association would need to approve any exterior security cameras, and the group’s current insurance company will not cover the building if the medical marijuana facility moves in.
Khot said he has spoken to several other insurance companies that are willing to do so. City staff said they didn’t feel it was their jurisdiction to get in the middle of issues between the association and prospective tenant, but several commissioners said they thought such issues should be considered.
“I’m concerned for our existing businesses and the position we may have unintentionally placed them in,” Meyer said.
Several said they want to hear more from the owners themselves and expressed a mix of feelings about the proposal.
“This to me is looking like a square peg in a round hole and unless we smooth out the edges I’ve got some major problems with it,” Commissioner Robert Williams said.
Coyne agreed more input is needed, but also complimented Greenway.
“In my personal view I’m very impressed with your people … and as far as location this is geographically where I guess I’d prefer to see this use,” he said.
Commissioners delayed a vote on the issue and will take it up again on Oct. 29.
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Naperville marijuana dispensary plans top security
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