Elgin commission recommends adult‑use cannabis dispensary at 205 S. Randall Road

On April 7, 2025 the City of Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend that City Council approve a conditional use to allow an adult‑use cannabis dispensary in an existing one‑story commercial building at 205 S. Randall Road (Petition 03‑25).

The recommendation matters because this would be Elgin’s second licensed adult‑use dispensary and because the business must satisfy both city conditions and final licensing from the state of Illinois before opening.

City staff told the commission the one‑acre site is zoned AB (area business) and contains a 2,563‑square‑foot building that was formerly a Boston Market and a 45‑space parking lot. Staff said the applicant’s proposed site plan will add sidewalks and required landscape islands, reducing parking to 36 spaces; the zoning ordinance requires one stall per 250 square feet, or 10 spaces for this building, so 36 would exceed the minimum. Staff recommended approval “subject to the conditions outlined in the packet,” including that there be no on‑premise consumption, that products not be visible from the public right of way, and that the applicant obtain final approval from the state before operating.

The applicant, who identified himself as Matthew Hegland (introduced in the staff report) and later gave his name as Matthew Haglund, said he won three licenses in the state social equity lottery and is proposing mainly interior renovations. He described security measures, a secured vault for product storage and rear‑yard deliveries, and said the build‑out process will be inspected by the state before a full adult‑use license is issued. “We really wanna, you know, clean up the building, make it very nice, and, work with the city along the way,” he said.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant several operational questions. Staff said Illinois requires dispensaries to be at least 1,500 feet apart; the city currently has no local cap on the number of dispensaries but the City Council could adopt limiting policies in the future. Staff also told the commission the city does not customarily regulate hours of operation; the applicant proposed hours of 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday. The police department reviewed and recommended the proposed security plan, and the applicant said one security guard would be on duty while the facility is open.

No members of the public spoke during the petition’s public hearing. After discussion, a motion to recommend approval was made and seconded; the roll call vote was unanimous, 6–0. The commission’s action is a recommendation; City Council will consider final approval and the applicant must secure final state licensing and a city certificate of occupancy before opening.

The commission’s recommendation advances the project to council review; staff said it would provide follow‑up dates for any additional council or committee meetings needed for final approvals.