Lincoln Park’s City Council voted to amend the city’s zoning code to permit marijuana retail establishments as a special land use in the Municipal Business District, a move supporters said could spur redevelopment of long-vacant properties and opponents said would sidestep voter intent.

The ordinance to amend Chapter 1278.03 was read into the record and moved for consideration by Councilwoman Duprey, with Councilman Bear supporting the motion. After explanations from planning and legal staff about the multiple procedural steps still required — including zoning, site-plan review, and potential amendments to chapter 2-53 governing licenses — the council approved the ordinance by roll call.

Why it matters: Supporters framed the amendment as an economic-development tool that could bring deteriorated commercial buildings back into use and add tax revenue. Opponents argued the change revisits a voter-approved framework that had specified where retailers could locate and how many would be permitted. Several council members suggested returning the question to voters rather than altering the ordinance now.

Council debate featured legal and procedural clarifications from Jason Kamister of Clark Hill, who told the council that state-license transfers and site approvals would remain separate steps and estimated that, if everything moved quickly, a relocated retail business could take a year to 18 months to open even after approvals. "This would be the first step in approving an additional potential location," Kamister said, noting that license transfer restrictions and state compliance would still apply.

Opponents emphasized deference to the ballot language that initially constrained locations and counts of retailers. One council member said, "I don't understand why there's a rush to do this" and argued the voters had previously chosen locations and quantities for retailers.

Supporters, including the mayor, said the amendment could allow two retail businesses to rehabilitate long-vacant, eyesore properties and expand the city’s tax base. "We need to start getting rid of these businesses that have been sitting around for 20 or 30 years," the mayor said, describing the change as an opportunity to revitalize commercial corridors.

What happens next: Council approved the ordinance on first and second reading by a recorded vote (four yes, three no). That approval allows the special-land-use framework to exist in the Municipal Business District but does not grant any specific business permission to open; individual sites would still require planning review, zoning compliance and, where applicable, state licensing.