Akron council approves conditional use for dual‑use marijuana dispensary in Merriman Valley, 7–5
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Summary
After extensive resident testimony about traffic, safety and property values, Akron City Council approved a conditional‑use permit for a dual‑use marijuana dispensary at the vacant CVS at 1140 West Portage Trail; the measure passed on a 7–5 roll call and remains subject to state review and local conditions.
Akron City Council voted to approve a conditional‑use permit allowing OPC Cultivation LLC to convert the long‑vacant CVS at 1140 West Portage Trail into a 3,000‑square‑foot marijuana dispensary with additional retail space, passing the ordinance 7–5 on the committee’s favorable report.
The petitioner’s counsel, Jesse Gann, asked council to “give us the opportunity” to repurpose the building and disputed opponents’ use of a National Association of Realtors excerpt, saying the report showed most respondents saw no change in residential property values or actual crime near dispensaries.
Residents who spoke at a lengthy public hearing urged the council to deny the permit or delay the decision. "We are for dispensaries to be located in nonresidential areas," Barbara Gross told council, noting the CVS parcel directly borders her neighborhood and private roads. Other speakers raised traffic safety, proximity to children and school buses, and potential declines in property and rental values.
Planning staff told council the proposal met form‑based code requirements for reuse and facade improvements and that the project must also be reviewed by the State Division of Cannabis Control. Planning Director Kyle Julian said the project adds glazing, pedestrian access and landscaping to align the existing auto‑oriented building with the Merriman Valley form‑based goals.
Councilman Fusco moved the committee’s favorable report. After debate and questions about the timing of traffic studies and neighborhood outreach, the roll call recorded Bolden No; Boyse Aye; Connor Aye; Davis Aye; Fusco Aye; Garrett No; Hannah No; Lombardo No; McKittrick Aye; Amobian No; Somerville Aye; Wilson Aye. The ordinance passed on a 7–5 vote.
The approval grants local conditional‑use permission; it does not eliminate required state review. The petitioner and planning staff also discussed conditions in substitute legislation encouraging the petitioner to meet neighboring property owners about easements and access; enforcement of any easement or gate, however, remains a private HOA matter.
Next steps: the petitioner must complete state licensing reviews and any conditions imposed by the city before opening. The council said it will continue seeking funding for a Merriman Valley traffic study to address broader intersection and safety concerns raised during testimony.
