By opening more of downtown Chicago to pot shops, the city hopes that more minority businesses owners can get in on the lucrative business of marijuana.
"Aldermen advanced Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal Wednesday to ease Chicago zoning rules to open marijuana dispensaries," reports John Byrne.
The zoning changes would open a broader swath of downtown to marijuana businesses. Mayor Lightfoot is pushing the changes to "make it easier for minority applicants get into a lucrative business now dominated locally by white-owned companies," according to Byrnes.
The city's current zoning for marijuana businesses, first proposed in 2019, prohibits marijuana businesses in most of the city's downtown, stretching all the way to the River North neighborhood. The changes would shrink that prohibition to a small area of the city’s center, including Michigan Avenue in downtown, the South Loop, and the area approaching Navy Pier from Michigan Avenue.
"Dozens of license holders in a first round of state marijuana license approvals opted to open in the suburbs, because the zoning process is easier in surrounding towns than in Chicago," according to a city source cited by Byrnes. "[T]he hope is that allowing dispensaries to operate on more prime real estate will give minority cannabis license owners better opportunities to get their businesses up and running in Chicago."
Chicago's New Strategic Plan for Transportation Prioritizes Equity and Accountability
The plan calls for safer streets, more equitable distribution of resources, and expanded community engagement.
'Anti-Conversion Ordinance' Considered in Chicago
New zoning controls would make it harder to convert multi-unit residential buildings into single-family homes to prevent displacement in single-family neighborhoods in Chicago.
New Approach to Capital Investment Expected in Chicago
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is readying a new capital investment plan that will spur the local economy and change the way the city apportions its infrastructure funding.
The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021
Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.
The Roadway Expansion Paradox
Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?
Urban Exodus: Data Don't Support the Popular Pandemic Narrative
Americans fled cities in waves during the pandemic, right? Not to so fast.
Miami Reinstates E-Scooter Program
After abruptly ending its shared e-scooter program last month, Miami is letting the devices return to its streets–with some new rules.
Doubling Down on Bus Rapid Transit in Northern Virginia
Arlington County plans an expansion of the D.C. region's first Bus Rapid Transit line.
Study: At Least 1,500 Unhoused Died on the Streets of L.A. During the Pandemic
New research represents the first detailed picture of death among people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.
Nelson\Nygaard
BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY
Water Replenishment District (WRD)
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Royal Oak, Michigan
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
