Akron council approves conditional use for dual‑use marijuana dispensary at 1956 West Market Street, 10‑3

Akron City Council on Monday approved an ordinance authorizing a conditional use to construct a dual‑use marijuana dispensary at 1956 West Market Street, passing the measure 10‑3 after a public hearing that drew a string of residents and small‑business owners who urged the council to reject the proposal.

The vote came after the council considered a staff presentation and testimony from the petitioner, neighborhood business owners and multiple residents. Councilman Mike Fusco moved to pull the committee report and to suspend the rules for a favorable report; the motion passed and the ordinance passed on roll call 10 in favor, 3 opposed.

The petition was presented by Pete Nish, a representative of Tanger Tango Ventures and Clutch Cannabis, who described the proposed one‑story, 2,480‑square‑foot building set flush with the West Market Street sidewalk. "Traffic is gonna be low," Nish said, saying the company expects about 100 to 120 transactions a day, that 50 to 60…