PEKIN (25News Now) – On the heels of approving a cannabis dispensary at the site of the former performing arts center in Downtown Pekin in early March, the city council is set to consider allowing another business desiring to sell marijuana for recreational use.

On the city council’s agenda for Monday night is a request for a special use permit to operate a dispensary at Sunset Hills Plaza in the 2900 block of Court Street.

The request comes from VHEA, LLC. Co-owner Vick Mehta, who’s also a real estate developer, told the city’s zoning board of appeals that the company also plans on buying all of Sunset Plaza and upgrading the shopping center.

According to the staff’s report to the council, the dispensary won’t allow anyone younger than 21 to enter the business, and it won’t be open earlier than 6 a.m. or later than 10 p.m. Also, there won’t be outdoor seating, nor will the dispensary provide drive-through sales or services.

The special use permit won unanimous approval from the city’s zoning board of appeals, but the city council has the final say.

Currently, Pekin has one cannabis dispensary that’s open for business. nuEra Pekin Dispensary is located at 3249 Court Street. The one at Sunset Plaza would be the final dispensary allowed under current city code.

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