Plan Commission Recommends Rezoning Change to Allow Marijuana Growing Facility

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Published on October 14 2014 3:40 pm
Last Updated on October 14 2014 3:40 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Members of the Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday voted 5-1 to recommend a rezoning of a rural tract of land to light industrial. The rezoning would help facilitate use of the site as a medicinal marijuana farm.

A group known as Effingham Medicinal Farms is seeking a permit from the Illinois Department of Agriculture to open a 22,000-square-foot production facility on land that is now part of the Leonard C. Willenborg Trust. The property is southwest of the city and is accessible through the "tunnels" running under the interstate.

Jon Loevy, one of the principals of Effingham Medicinal Farms, presented testimony about the project. Loevy said the medicinal marijuana would be produced and shipped to the dispensaries that will be located throughout the state. Those who use the medicinal marijuana must be permitted to do so. The State is still in the process of assigning permits for the production facilities, the dispensaries, and those who can use the product. The State says they will have the permitting process completed by the end of 2014 and Loevy said they will then have six months to have the facility "up and running". 

Those who are seeking permits to use the medical marijuana are dealing with specific ailments such as multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and other debilitating illnesses. Loevy said this would not involve recreational marijuana.

Loevy said one production facility will be permitted in each of the 22 State Police districts in Illinois. He said the proponents like the location as it is isolated, since security is a key concern for the State in permitting the facilities. He said the facility would be self-contained and enclosed and said the truck that would take the product to the dispensaries would be loaded inside the facility. 

Loevy estimated the project at $5 million-$6 million and could result in up to 50 jobs, perhaps more if the demand grows. He noted the production facility will be modular, so could be expanded.

City Building Official Bruce Devall said the facility doesn't technically conform with the city's Comprehensive Plan for the area, "but with their (the developers) desire for security, it makes sense."

The lone Commissioner to raise an objection to the facility was Robert McGee, who asked "what does this say about Effingham when we let this happen for a few jobs?" The others present said the process by the State appears sound and indicated the developers appear to have done their homework.

The City Council has the last word on the rezoning, which would be contingent on Effingham Medicinal Farms getting the permit from the Department of Agriculture.

Plan Commission members also recommended the rezoning of property at 209 North 4th Street from general commercial district to central business district. Chad Hawkins would like to buy the property from Chris and Cindy Shimboff and would like to live on the upstairs floor and operate a Brazilian Ju Jitsu Academy on the main floor. A Central Business District zoning designation would allow such a plan to proceed.