Downers Grove council expected to allow cannabis businesses at Tuesday's meeting

DOWNERS GROVE - Downers Grove commissioners are likely to approve cannabis businesses in the village at Tuesday night's Village Council meeting.

Dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses could join the Downers Grove community in six months if the council votes in favor of them--a move the council signalled was likely at its Dec. 1 meeting.

A favorable vote seems likely now that Commissioner Rich Kulovany, who initially opposed the idea, supports the measure.

He joins Commissioners Greg Hose, Lesile-Sadowski-Fugitt and Mayor Bob Barnett, who have backed allowing marijuana dispensaries in select parts of the community since last year.

The council first considered allowing cannabis businesses in late 2019, when the state decided to give municipalities the ability to opt in or opt out of allowing recreational sales.

At that time, Kulovany joined Commissioners Marge Earl, Nicole Walus and Cavanaugh Gray in opposing dispensaries in town. They voted to opt out rather than have the plan commission hold a hearing on the issue, a decision that upset many residents.

In October, Kulovany said he planned to support cannabis establishments, in part because he’s seen how other communities have moved forward with them.

If approved, cannabis establishments would be allowed to set up shop either in the M-1 light manufacturing or M-2 restricted manufacturing districts.

The proposed ordinance stipulates that special-use permits for recreational and medicinal cannabis dispensaries would be capped at three. Additionally, dispensaries would be prohibited from being adjacent to residential neighborhoods and would require a 1,300-foot separation from day care centers, schools and parks.