Lincoln Park council defers vote on marijuana retail zoning until public hearing Jan. 26

Lincoln Park’s city council voted on Jan. 12 to defer a zoning-code amendment that would allow marijuana retail establishments in the Municipal Business District (MBD), after several members said the current paperwork and notice were insufficient.

A council member argued the process felt rushed and requested a formal public hearing to allow residents and businesses in the affected district to comment. Another member proposed explicit language to defer the ordinance pending that hearing and to include a hearing date on the resolution. Council adopted the motion to defer action pending a public hearing to be held Monday, Jan. 26, and the mayor and clerk confirmed the ordinance will return on the next council agenda for a vote after the hearing.

On the roll call for the deferral, votes were recorded as follows (as announced at the meeting): Ross — yes; (speaker identified as “Soar”/Zohr) — yes; Baer — yes; Clay — no; Nichols — no; Salcedo — yes; Mayor Tobin — no. The mayor declared the motion to defer passed 4–3.

Council members who supported the hearing said it promotes transparency and gives residents, business owners and those in the municipal business district a formal opportunity to be heard. Those opposing the deferral indicated they were ready to proceed with the ordinance as presented. The clerk and city attorney explained how the public hearing notice would be posted and that the hearing would occur during the regular council meeting on Jan. 26; some council members requested newspaper notice in addition to website posting.

What’s next: The ordinance will be the subject of a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 26, after which the council may vote on the ordinance.