BELLVILLE — Bellville mayor Teri Brenkus said she hopes a proposed cannabis dispensary in the village goes to a referendum petition for voters to decide.
The village planning commission hosted a public forum on Thursday at the Village of Butler’s event center. Residents were invited to share their opinions on a proposed cannabis dispensary on the village’s north end near the State Route 97/ Interstate 71 interchange.
More than 150 people attended the event, with nearly 30 people speaking during the meeting’s public comment period.
“I strongly feel this should go to a vote in the village,” the mayor said. “From what I heard tonight, this was a 50-50 split for and against a dispensary.
“I do not believe the planning commission or the council should be the ones to decide this.”
60% of Bellville voters opposed Issue 2 in November
The Village of Bellville makes up Jefferson Township’s A precinct, according to Richland County Board of Elections maps.
Of 1,499 registered voters in the JEFF – a precinct — 860 voted on Issue 2. About 60% voted no, with 343 voters — approximately 40% — voting yes. Richland County at large voted no on Issue 2 by just a third of a percentage point, according to final vote totals from the 2023 general election.
Village planning commission members tied 2-2 last December on Standard Wellness’ conditional use permit application. The commission now has five members after filling a vacancy.
The planning commission hosted Thursday’s public forum to hear additional community input on the matter.
The planning commission gave Bellville residents the first chance to speak, followed by other members of the Clear Fork Valley community. The meeting lasted approximately 90 minutes.
Planning commission chair Brad Smith said members will determine their recommendation to council on whether the village should allow, prohibit or limit dispensaries at a later date. The planning commission is scheduled to meet on the fourth Monday of every month at 5 p.m.
“Our next meeting is March 25, though I’d be surprised if we voted on this Monday,” Smith said. “It will all depend on if somebody brings a motion up to vote on it.
“No matter what we do, it goes to the council and they can determine what they want to do with it.”
Standard Wellness estimates $360,000 in revenue toward Bellville if approved
Thursday’s meeting began with a presentation from Standard Wellness president and CEO Jared Maloof.
Standard Wellness applied for a conditional use permit last year on 1.3 acres directly north of Burger King. According to Ohio Revised Code, dispensaries are currently prohibited within 500 feet of a school, church, public library or public park.
Bellville village council passed a six-month moratorium in January halting any license approval or zoning permits for cultivators, processors or retail dispensaries in the area. Council members could vote to repeal the moratorium earlier, or extend it if they wish.
“I want to make very clear that if there’s any talk someone tried to push this through without hearing from the public, that’s not true,” Maloof said. “We were never going to do anything without a public forum like this.”
Maloof said a Bellville dispensary could generate $10 million in revenue annually at a potential Bellville location. Brightfield Group, a Chicago-based research organization that tracks the cannabis industry, suggests Ohio’s market could grow to $2.2 billion across the next five years.
“There are 120 dispensaries in Ohio, and within the next 18 months, there’s probably going to be 200 across the state,” Maloof said. “When you take $2.2 billion and you divide by 200, you get more or less $10 million.
“The host municipality, by law, gets 36% of the adult-use tax levied on marijuana sales. That could be $360,000 for the Village of Bellville.”
Brenkus said the dispensary’s revenue could help the village pay for road maintenance and additional policing.
“We already struggle to fund those areas,” she said. “We have $66,000 of repairs on State Route 13 and 97 that we could do right now that we can’t afford.”
Residents worry dispensary could hurt village’s children & image
A number of residents who spoke at the public forum Thursday said they weren’t opposed to their neighbors using marijuana, but they didn’t want a dispensary in the village.
Don VanMeter, who owns Wishmaker House Bed and Breakfast with his wife, said he thought a dispensary would hurt the village’s image.
“Since I bought the Wishamker, not a week goes by that somebody doesn’t tell me how beautiful our village is,” he said. “I’m not saying (cannabis) isn’t good for people who need it, what I’m saying is it’s not good for our community.”
Bellville resident Alan Edwards asked what would happen to the village if Standard Wellness’ tax revenue projections were smaller than what they shared Thursday.
“Frankly, I don’t really care if somebody smokes weed,” he said. “But who’s held responsible when the numbers that you’re telling us don’t come through?
“Also, as someone pointed out earlier, we’re getting ready to build a new sports complex. Juveniles will be there day after day in direct sight of where you’re at.”
Richland County commissioner and former mayor of Bellville Darrell Banks said he thought fundraising for the new YMCA sports complex could be more difficult if a dispensary is approved.
“We should not put this pot store across the street — across the highway — from a $22 million soccer YMCA,” he said. “Which is still $8 million short.
“I believe it’s going to be harder to raise (money) if this goes through.”
Medical marijuana patients support potential dispensary
Washington Township resident Paul Robinson said he uses marijuana to aid his multiple sclerosis.
“I think there’s a lot of fear here regarding marijuana,” the 82-year-old said. “Marijuana causes much less suffering and health problems than either alcohol or tobacco and it is not deadly.
“I don’t think the presence of a dispensary would encourage teen use any more than a bar does for alcohol. I understand where you’re coming from, but people like me need a dispensary so I don’t have to drive miles and miles.”
Bellville resident Maris Bucci has been a medical marijuana patient for seven years.
“I have PTSD and I also previously worked in the medical marijuana industry,” she said. “For those opposed at the last meeting, there was a clear disconnect surrounding cannabis users and the resource and opportunity it provides.
“I encourage the opposition to further understand what or who it is that they’re opposing.”
Regardless of the planning commission’s recommendation and Bellville Village Council’s decision on a dispensary, residents will still be allowed to consume and grow cannabis on their own property according to Ohio Revised Code regulations.
The state of Ohio limits legal consumption of cannabis to 21 and older for recreational users and 18 and older for medical users.
It is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against consuming marijuana when pregnant or underage.
