Two rejected proposals for new cannabis dispensaries in Normal are coming back for a second try.
The Normal Zoning Board of Appeals will hear the two requests for a special use permit and hold public hearings at 5 p.m. April 20.
The first proposal is for High Haven, which wants to open at 106 Mall Drive in the space now occupied by the Mandarin Garden restaurant. The Normal Town Council rejected that plan Feb. 6, with potential traffic congestion and nearby family-friendly stores raising concerns among town leaders.
In a new version of the proposal submitted March 16, High Haven’s owners say they’re now proposing “a significant increase in the number of on-site private parking spaces (up to 58 spaces) and measures to divert traffic away from the intersection of East College Avenue and Mall Drive (one-way entrance and exit).”
Town staff said High Haven may be submitting further changes to its proposal before the April 20 meeting.
Meanwhile, the Zoning Board of Appeals will also hear a request for reconsideration of a proposal for a new Revolution cannabis dispensary at 1609 Northbrook Drive, inside a strip mall in north Normal.
The ZBA initially denied that request March 16.
After the High Haven vote, Mayor Chris Koos said the council needed to have a “policy discussion” soon focused on how many dispensaries the town would allow, and guidelines as to where they should go.
“We have to have a better understanding as a council on what we want and what we think our community wants. We didn’t do that. Maybe shame on us. But we need to do that,” he told WGLT.
Currently, Normal’s only dispensary (run by Beyond Hello) is located in far north Normal, although that same company’s other local location (in Bloomington) is located on a highly visible stretch of Veterans Parkway.
