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Resident objects to proposed marijuana dispensary near Dodge Avenue, cites traffic and property-value concerns
Summary
A Dodge Avenue resident urged the council to oppose a planned marijuana dispensary near his home, citing proximity to residences, a high customer count observed at another dispensary and potential impact on property values and neighborhood character.
David Parks, a resident at 39 Dodge Avenue, told Akron City Council during public comment that a proposed marijuana dispensary near his home — roughly 100 feet from his property line, he said — would harm property values and neighborhood quality of life.
Parks described the location as adjacent to Dodge Avenue and said the parcel previously held a house at 25 Dodge Avenue. He said a neighbor invested $250,000 renovating a four-unit building nearby and that tenants are young professionals who would be affected by a dispensary. “I counted the people that walked in in 62 minutes. This is on the June 6. And 54 people walked in,” Parks said, describing observations at a dispensary he identified as Blum.
Parks said he checked other dispensary locations and noted larger separations from houses, stating that at one site “it's 350 feet to the nearest house.” He also cited a distancing rule when discussing siting: “There's a reason why they can't be within 500 feet of a church, a school, or a play,” as he described it. Parks said he had spoken with two real-estate professionals who told him a dispensary could reduce property values.
The remarks were made during the meeting's public comment period; no council action on the proposed dispensary was recorded on the meeting agenda. The council did not take public testimony on the siting as part of a formal hearing during this meeting and no zoning or licensing vote was taken.
