Stow Cannabis Dispensary Proposal Heads to Planning Commission

Note: At the time of writing, the Stow Planning Commission has not yet held this meeting. All items are proposals that could be modified, tabled, or denied. Details may change as the process moves forward.

When And Where The Meeting Will Be Held

The Stow Planning Commission is scheduled to meet on:

• Date: November 25, 2025
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• Livestream: City of Stow YouTube Streams
• Council Chambers
  3760 Darrow Road
  First Floor of City Hall
  Stow, OH 44224

At this meeting, the commission is expected to consider its 2026 schedule, a Stow cannabis dispensary proposal at Steels Pointe, and a bank project on Kent Road. Residents can attend to listen, follow the discussion, and, when allowed, offer public comment.

What’s On The Planning Commission’s Upcoming Agenda?

The next Stow Planning Commission meeting is expected to be especially important for anyone following development, zoning, or cannabis policy in the city. In addition to setting its 2026 meeting schedule, the commission is scheduled to consider a detailed proposal for a Stow cannabis dispensary at Steels Pointe, as well as a separate request for site changes at a financial institution on Kent Road.

According to the agenda notice sent out, the commission is expected to take up three main items:

1. Consideration of 2026 Planning Commission dates
2. P.C. 2025-031 – 4149 Steels Pointe Drive – Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary (site plan, conditional use, variances)
3. P.C. 2025-033 – 4420 Kent Road – Financial Institution with Drive-Thru (site plan, conditional use, variances)

Because this meeting has not yet occurred, any of these items could be approved, modified, delayed, or rejected, and the final outcome may differ from what is currently proposed.

Spotlight: Proposed Adult-Use Stow Cannabis Dispensary At Steels Pointe

One of the highest-profile proposals on the agenda is P.C. 2025-031, which seeks approvals for an adult-use cannabis dispensary at 4149 Steels Pointe Drive.

• Applicant: Hannah Mink
• Owner: Courthouse Square Investment Group, LLC
• Location: 4149 Steels Pointe Dr. (Parcel #56-18089)
• Acreage: 1.02 acres
• Zoning: C-5 – Highway Service

At this stage, nothing has been approved. The applicant is asking the Planning Commission to consider multiple requests:

Site Plan Approval (Request Only)

The applicant is requesting approval of a site plan for an Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary under Section 1137.03(d) of Stow’s code.

If approved, this site plan would govern:

• Building placement
• Parking and drive aisles
• Access points and circulation
• Landscaping and buffering
• How the proposed dispensary fits within the C‑5 Highway Service district and surrounding uses

The commission can approve, deny, or request changes to the site plan.

Conditional Use Approval (Request Only)

Cannabis dispensaries are not automatically permitted uses. In this case, the applicant is requesting a conditional use approval for an Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary under Section 1145.02.

By law, the commission has discretion to:

• Evaluate potential impacts on neighbors, nearby schools, and residential areas
• Consider traffic, noise, and safety concerns
• Attach conditions to any approval, such as hours of operation, lighting standards, or additional screening

The conditional use request can be approved with conditions, denied, or modified.

Requested Variance: Setback From a School

A major point in this Stow cannabis dispensary proposal is the requested variance from the required separation from a school property line.

• Current code requirement (Section 1177.03(b)):
  • 1,000-foot setback from the property line of a school
• What the applicant is requesting:
  • Approval of a setback of 955 feet, which is 45 feet less than the requirement

The Planning Commission will need to decide whether this reduced distance still meets the intent of the separation rule. Until they vote, this remains only a request, not a granted exception.

Requested Variance: Setback From a Residential District

An even more significant variance request concerns the distance between the proposed dispensary site and a residential zoning district.

• Current code requirement (Section 1177.03(f)):
  • 1,000-foot setback from the property line of a residential district
• What the applicant is requesting:
  • Approval of a setback of 0 feet—meaning the site would directly abut a residential zoning boundary

This is likely to be one of the most heavily debated aspects at the meeting. Questions commissioners and residents may raise include:

• How will the project buffer nearby homes from lighting, noise, and customer traffic?
• Is a 0-foot setback from residential zoning consistent with how Stow intends to treat cannabis uses?
• Could alternative layouts or site design changes reduce the impact on residential neighbors?

Again, this is a request, not a done deal; the commission may approve, deny, or seek a compromise.

Supporting Documents For The Dispensary Case

For this case, commissioners will have several supporting documents to review before they vote:

• PC-2025-031 – Location Map
• PC-2025-031 – Complete Packet
• PC-2025-031 – Traffic Impact Study
• PC-2025-031 – Storm Water Management Report

These reports and plans will inform any decision the commission ultimately makes, particularly around traffic, safety, and drainage. Members of the public who review these documents should keep in mind they reflect the applicant’s proposal, not the city’s final position.

Kent Road Bank And Drive-Thru Proposal: P.C. 2025-033

Another case scheduled for the same meeting is P.C. 2025-033, a proposal for site alterations for a financial institution at 4420 Kent Road.

• Applicant: Matthew Schoening
• Owner: TWL Kent Road LLC
• Location: 4420 Kent Rd. (Parcel #56-13002)
• Acreage: 1.19 acres
• Zoning: C-4 – General Business

Here too, the commission has not yet voted. The applicant is seeking several approvals that are still under consideration.

Site Plan Approval For Site Alterations (Requested)

Under Section 1137.03(d), the applicant is requesting approval of a site plan for site alterations related to a financial institution. The proposed changes likely touch on:

• Building footprint or façade updates
• Parking and drive-thru lane layout
• Signage placement
• Pedestrian access and landscaping

The commission could approve these changes as proposed, require revisions, or deny them.

Conditional Use For Drive-Thru Facility (Requested)

The project also seeks a conditional use approval for a drive-thru facility under Section 1145.02. Potential concerns often include:

• Vehicle queuing and whether cars might back up into the street
• Noise from idling vehicles and ordering
• Pedestrian safety around the building and across access drives

The drive-thru is not guaranteed; it needs an affirmative vote from the commission.

Requested Variance: Side Yard Building Setback

The project requests a variance from the side yard setback requirements:

• Code requirement (Section 1145.06):
  • 20-foot side yard building setback
• Proposed and requested:
  • 13 feet, 3 inches

This would move the building closer to the side property line than normally allowed, subject to the commission’s approval.

Requested Variance: Bypass Lane For Drive-Thru

The applicant is also requesting a variance not to provide the required 10-foot bypass lane for the drive-thru:

• Code requirement (Section 1145.15):
  • A 10-foot bypass lane so vehicles can leave the drive-thru line if necessary
• Variance request:
  • Permission not to include that bypass lane in the design

Commissioners will have to decide whether this design still provides safe and efficient circulation. As with all the other requests, this is proposed only, pending the commission’s decision.

Supporting materials include:

• PC-2025-033 – Location Map
• PC-2025-033 – Complete Packet

Setting The 2026 Planning Commission Calendar

Another item on the agenda is the Planning Commission schedule for 2026.

This is a proposed calendar of meeting dates that the commission is expected to review and adopt. Once approved, it will:

• Establish the official timetable for public hearings and development reviews next year
• Help residents, developers, and community groups plan ahead for when major decisions could come up

Until the commission votes, the 2026 schedule is also subject to change.

Why This Meeting Matters — And Why Outcomes Aren’t Final Yet

For residents, this Planning Commission meeting is a key step in shaping:

• Where and how an adult-use Stow cannabis dispensary might operate
• How strictly Stow applies its setback rules for cannabis businesses near schools and residential districts
• The future look and function of Steels Pointe and Kent Road, two major commercial corridors

But it’s equally important to understand:

• The commission has not yet made any final decisions.
• The dispensary and bank projects are proposals, not done deals.
• Projects can be approved, modified, continued to a future meeting, or denied.
• Details in the packets and studies reflect what the applicants are asking for, not what the city has already agreed to.

Residents who want to stay informed about the Stow cannabis dispensary proposal or the Kent Road project may wish to review the agenda materials in advance and attend the November 25 meeting to hear the discussion firsthand.

For more information, visit Planning Commission on the city’s website: Planning Commission.