NILES — What could be Niles’ first medical marijuana provisioner has moved one stepped closer to move-in.

The Niles Planning Commission unanimously approved a special land use permit for Green Stem, LLC to build its dispensary at 1140 S. 11th St. at the site of Sparkle Quik Lube, which is moving. The business is currently based in Orion Township, Michigan, on the east side of the state.

The vote was unanimous, save for April Gargis and Jerome Warburton, who were absent. There was no discussion on the matter, and the meeting was 11 minutes long.

“I just wanted to say, ‘Thank you very much,”’ said Denise Lynch, co-owner of Green Stem. “We are very, very excited about coming out to Niles.”

City community development director Sanya Vitale gave her recommendation to the board prior to the vote based on the special land use application.

She noted that Green Stem’s special land use would not disturb the surrounding commercial properties, that nothing hazardous would contaminate the property and that use of the property would not detriment any person, property or general welfare.

“The property use would not change the character of the area,” Vitale said. “It would offer clean, upscale retail shop to compliment the corridor.”

Vitale said that Green Stem did submit its goals and objectives and is planning to send its rationale for how it was developed.

Green Stem expects to start demolition mid-July. Lynch said she plans to have obtained its state license and certificate of occupancy so it can open by Oct. 1, in time for the Four Flags Area Apple Festival.

Lynch noted that she has plans to install 14 register stands if the provisioning center comes to be, meaning that at least 14 employees will be hired at minimum.

She expects the purchasing of the 1140 property, which includes Mexican restaurant Taqueria Don Chepe rents, and the build-out of Green Stem’s facility to cost about $1.5 million. It will require the company to bring in temporary contract employment to Niles.

The business was pre-approved for a state license. Michigan requires local government approval before issuing a state license to prospective medical marijuana businesses.

Green Stem received its local licensure from Niles board members during a meeting on April 8. Niles requires medical marijuana businesses to be pre-approved by the state before consideration.

The medical marijuana business’ staff are also working with the city to be approved for a grow and processing center at the site of the former Simplicity Pattern Company on Wayne Street. If its special land use permit is granted by the planning commission, it will supply its provisioning center.

Green Stem will be unable to submit its site plan ahead of the next planning commission meeting in June. Lynch said this was because a land survey of the property could not be completed until mid-June.

The proposed growing and processing center was conditionally approved for licensure by the city’s board during a May 20 meeting.

Green Stem is one of three medical marijuana facilities whose applications have been approved by the board.