Vanlue council adopts 12‑month moratorium on commercial marijuana sales, orders zoning review

Vanlue Village Council approved a 12‑month moratorium on the commercial growth and sale of marijuana during its Nov. 25, 2024 meeting, saying the pause will allow time to review zoning rules and state and local legal requirements.

The moratorium — Ordinance 2024‑08 — was moved by Councilmember Jeri Wenger and seconded by Councilmember Ann Burrell. The measure passed by a 5–1 vote, according to the minutes; the record does not identify which councilmember cast the lone no vote.

Resident Lucas Tyson urged that villagers be included in any final decision about commercial marijuana in Vanlue. Trustee Becky Nye presented a scenario estimating the village might receive roughly $25,000 in annual tax revenue if retail sales were established; she described the number as a general scenario rather than a guaranteed amount. Village Administrator Leo Hendricks told council that a moratorium would allow staff and the zoning committee to examine zoning constraints and possible locations before any licenses or permits were authorized.

Councilmembers noted existing 500‑foot exclusion zones around schools, churches and the village park, and staff said current maps show only one parcel — owned by Jared Fry — that lies outside those exclusion zones and might be eligible under current rules. Ann Burrell was assigned to lead the zoning committee reviewing the moratorium regulations and the village's broader zoning ordinance, which was last comprehensively updated in 1989.

Hendricks said the moratorium could be rescinded before the 12‑month period if the council adopts updated zoning rules that establish permitted commercial or business zones and related restrictions. The council scheduled further zoning and moratorium work and expects updated maps and draft language for future meetings.

The council concluded the meeting after approving several other agenda items; no timeline for final zoning revisions was set at the Nov. 25 session.