Planning staff recommend conditional use for 7 Leaves infuser at DuPont building; operator outlines jobs and security

Planning staff and the Committee of the Whole on Thursday recommended that the Village of Glendale Heights move forward a conditional-use request for 7 Leaves LLC to operate a cannabis infuser at the former DuPont building, 600 Wall Street.

Jason Engberg told the committee the use is an infusion/wholesale operation — not a retail dispensary — and that an earlier conditional-use approval from 2022 lapsed when the prior applicant did not establish the business. A representative for the company, Dan Burton, said his firm (Sun Theory) purchased the 7 Leaves license and intends to begin permitting and construction work promptly if approved by the board.

"I'm super excited to get into this community and provide some nice paying jobs," Dan Burton said, adding the facility expects to employ "between 18 and 25" workers with entry-level pay "anywhere from $20 to $22 an hour." He described the operation as similar to a commercial kitchen that infuses concentrated cannabis product into finished gummies and sells wholesale to business customers.

Burton described security measures required by state regulation: 24/7 camera monitoring with local police access to live feeds, data retention for video and controlled access to employee-only areas. Planning staff said the company submitted a detailed narrative on ventilation, safety, layout and building improvements; the committee voted to forward a recommendation to the village board for confirmation.

Committee members asked about parking, prior approvals and whether the applicant would proceed; Burton said the company will begin pulling permits immediately and hopes to begin operations subject to local and state approvals.

The recommendation leaves final approval to the board; the committee vote forwarded the item to the next board meeting for consideration.