Darien Official Wants To Recruit Marijuana Stores

Darien IL

02 February, 2021

7:12 PM

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DARIEN, IL — A Darien alderman is pushing the city's economic developers to recruit marijuana businesses to town, saying such an industry would produce much needed tax money for the city government. In 2019, the City Council voted 4-3 to allow recreational marijuana stores in Darien. Many residents have been vocal in opposition to that decision. At Monday's City Council meeting, Alderman Eric Gustafson asked the city's Economic Development Committee about its plan to attract marijuana businesses. Member Mark Weberling said that while the committee knew the council decided to allow marijuana businesses, it had heard concerns about such stores from aldermen. "I know it's a very contentious issue," Weberling said. Gustafson countered the council approved such sales. "The door is open. We're looking at $700,000, $800,000, $900,000 in annual revenue that we're looking to get from these businesses, if not more," he said. "I think it would be ridiculous for us to turn our back when we have a place like the Steak 'n Shake building sitting there, a prime piece of property ready for that type of business to come in." Gustafson said the city desperately needs a new public works building, which he said marijuana tax money could pay for. City Administrator Bryon Vana said the city had not given the Economic Development Committee responsibility to look at specific businesses such as marijuana stores. Such a discussion is more in the City Council's realm, he said. The committee's chairwoman, Tina Beilke, called the issue "sensitive," but acknowledged marijuana businesses would bring in a lot of money for the city. If asked, she said, "that's something we would work on." Although the council decided to allow marijuana stores in 2019, it banned such businesses in Brookhaven Plaza a few months later. The council voted 5-2 against allowing marijuana sales at Brookhaven. Voting to ban it were Mary Sullivan, Ted Schauer, Lester Vaughan, Joseph Kenny and Tom Chlystek. In voting for the prohibition, Vaughan said he based his decision on feedback from constituents, calling the vote "tough." The dissenters were Gustafson and Thomas Belczak. In the earlier vote, those favoring marijuana sales in town were Belczak, Chlystek, Gustafson and Vaughan. Voting against were Kenny, Schauer and Sullivan. Other nearby towns, including Hinsdale and Burr Ridge, have banned recreational marijuana stores.