2026 IL App (1st) 241910-U No. 1-24-1910 First Division March 16, 2026
NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT ____________________________________________________________________________
NEIGHBORS AGAINST A MARIJUANA ) Appeal from the DISPENSARY AT 2573-81 LINCOLN, ) Circuit Court of INC., ) Cook County. ) Plaintiff-Appellant, ) ) No. 23 CH 8934 v. ) ) ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS OF THE ) CITY OF CHICAGO and MARIGROW, ) INC., ) Honorable ) Thaddeus L. Wilson Defendants-Appellees. ) Judge, Presiding.
____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE COBBS delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Fitzgerald Smith and Justice Howse concurred in the judgment. ORDER
¶1 Held: The circuit court’s judgment is affirmed where plaintiff did not have standing to pursue the administrative review action, there were no violations of plaintiff’s right to due process and equal protection, and the court did not abuse its discretion in denying plaintiff’s request to amend its complaint or in refusing to remand for development of the record. No. 1-24-1910
¶2 Plaintiff-appellant Neighbors Against a Marijuana Dispensary At 2573-81 Lincoln, Inc.
(NAMD) filed a complaint in the circuit court of Cook County seeking administrative review of a
decision issued by defendant-appellee Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Chicago (the
Board), granting a special use permit to defendant-appellee MariGrow, Inc., to operate a cannabis
dispensary at 2573-81 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. The circuit court dismissed NAMD’s
complaint for administrative review and affirmed the Board’s decision. NAMD now appeals from
the circuit court’s judgment, arguing that (1) the Board denied NAMD due process and equal
protection when it denied its request for continuance; (2) the circuit court abused its discretion in
denying NAMD leave to amend its complaint; (3) NAMD has standing to seek administrative
review of the Board’s decision; and (4) the circuit court abused its discretion when it declined to
remand this matter to the Board to further develop the record as to NAMD’s standing.
¶3 For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
¶4 I. BACKGROUND
¶5 The following factual summary is derived from the pleadings and exhibits contained in the
record on appeal.
¶6 In 2019, MariGrow applied to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation for a conditional adult use dispensing organization license. Its application was
approved, and MariGrow was eventually awarded a license for the Chicagoland area.
¶7 On March 9, 2023, MariGrow filed its special use application with the Board, seeking “to
establish an adult use cannabis dispensary at the subject site,” i.e., 2573-81 North Lincoln Avenue.
That same day, a public notice sign was posted in the window of the subject property, which
indicated that MariGrow had applied for a special use permit.
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¶8 On May 10, 2023, notice of a June 1, 2023, community meeting related to MariGrow’s
application was published in the Chicago Sun-Times. Additionally, counsel for MariGrow averred
that, two weeks prior to the meeting, written notice of the community meeting was served via first
class mail on all property owners within 250 feet of the property. On May 12, 2023, Alderman
Timmy Knudsen issued a newsletter via e-mail to all ward residents that included a notice for the
June 1 community meeting. This same notice for the meeting was included in the May 19 and May
26 newsletters as well. Alderman Knudsen e-mailed a final notice of the meeting to ward residents
on June 1.
¶9 On June 1, 2023, a community meeting was held, with 180 people in attendance.
¶ 10 On July 12, 2023, NAMD was formed and officially incorporated as an Illinois Not-for-
Profit corporation.
¶ 11 At the beginning of August, the Board placed MariGrow’s application on the agenda for a
hearing on August 18, 2023. According to NAMD’s complaint, on August 4, 2023, the City of
Chicago uploaded the agenda for that hearing. According to the Board’s findings following the
August 18 hearing, “[d]ue notice of the hearing was provided under Sections 17-13-0107-A(9) and
17-13-0107-B of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance and by publication in the Chicago Tribune.”
¶ 12 On August 16, 2023, counsel for NAMD sent a letter to the Board’s chairman, Brian
Sanchez, stating that NAMD was still waiting for a response to its Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) request and requested that the hearing be continued until October 2023. Neither the FOIA
request itself nor a response to counsel’s request appears in the record.
¶ 13 The Board’s hearing on NAMD’s application took place on August 18, 2023, at which the
following occurred. Counsel for NAMD orally requested a 60-day continuance, stating that
NAMD needed more time to prepare for the hearing. MariGrow’s counsel objected to this request,
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stating that MariGrow had been through a lengthy process, engaged with the community, and had
served the proper notices for the hearing. The chairman inquired as to NAMD’s reason for its
continuance request. Counsel responded that, on the previous day, it had received numerous
documents as a result of the FOIA request. When asked when the FOIA request was submitted,
counsel answered, “I believe last week.” MariGrow’s counsel responded that it had provided more
than adequate notice throughout the application process. The chairman also asked NAMD’s
counsel whether any of the members of NAMD owned property within 250 feet of the subject
property. Counsel responded: “I don’t have that exact information here at this time.” Subsequently,
the chairman denied the request.
¶ 14 During the hearing, MariGrow presented several witnesses to support its application.
Afterwards, Paul Link, treasurer and director of NAMD, testified to NAMD’s objection to
MariGrow’s application. He stated that the dispensary would negatively impact pedestrian safety
because schoolchildren will walk past the property every day and the presence of security indicates
an increased risk of crime, like children being “caught in crossfire, just as an example.” Link also
stated that the dispensary would negatively impact the general welfare of the neighborhood and
the community because there would be an increase in marijuana use in the nearby park. The
commissioner for the Department of Planning and Development, Sam Toia, asked Link why he
believed children would be caught in “crossfires” in front of this dispensary when the
commissioner had not heard of that happening anywhere else in the city. The commissioner also
pointed out that all banks have security, as well as many restaurants and bars. Link responded that
there may have been a shooting incident involving a dispensary and a child, but it was just not
reported, and he reiterated that the presence of security means the increased probability of crime,
which would negatively impact the neighborhood. When the chairman asked if he had attended
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any community meetings related to the dispensary, Link responded: “I wasn’t part of the one for
the zoning change that was at the end of last year, but I did go to the [June 1] community meeting.”
He further testified that, even though he was at that meeting, “you don’t retain counsel and have
them start doing discovery, hiring expert witnesses, spending thousands and thousands of dollars,
until you know something is going to happen.” He continued, stating that NAMD learned of the
August meeting “two weeks ago” and then retained counsel. Finally, Alderman Knudsen testified
as to the meetings, notice, and community engagement conducted over the prior two years related
to MariGrow. The meeting then concluded.
¶ 15 On September 18, 2023, the Board approved MariGrow’s application, finding that
MariGrow satisfied all of the necessary criteria for a special use permit. In its written findings, and
as relevant here, the Board addressed NAMD’s request for a continuance. Specifically, the Board
stated that MariGrow is a social equity cannabis applicant and had “undergone a lengthy process”
to arrive at the Board in August, MariGrow held a community meeting the previous year for a
zoning map amendment even though it was not legally required to do so, and MariGrow also
engaged in meetings with Alderman Knudsen, the Wrightwood Community Association, and the
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. The Board found that “[a]ll proper notices were sent out,”
one officer of NAMD was present at the June 1 community meeting, and NAMD had knowledge
“for quite some time” that MariGrow’s application would come before the Board. The Board also
noted that it was unclear whether any members of NAMD lived within 250 feet of the property
and that counsel for NAMD declined to cross-examine any of MariGrow’s witnesses. The Board
concluded that “due process was afforded” to NAMD and “any hardship suffered by [NAMD]
because of the denial [of the continuance] was created by [NAMD’s] expectation that a
continuance would be granted.”
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¶ 16 On October 20, 2023, NAMD filed a complaint for administrative review in the circuit
court, alleging that the Board violated its due process rights by denying its request for a
continuance and granting MariGrow’s special use application over NAMD’s objections.
¶ 17 On December 20, 2023, MariGrow filed a combined motion to dismiss NAMD’s complaint
pursuant to section 2-619.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-619.1 (West
2022)). In particular, MariGrow asserted that NAMD’s complaint should be dismissed for failure
to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and for lack of standing. A few months later,
the Board also filed a combined motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-619.1 of the Code (735
ILCS 5/2-619.1 (West 2022)), asserting substantially the same arguments.
¶ 18 On March 5, 2024, NAMD filed a memorandum of law in support of its complaint. On
March 19, 2024, MariGrow filed a response. On April 2, 2024, NAMD filed a reply. MariGrow
requested leave to file a sur-response, and NAMD subsequently requested leave to file a sur-reply.
The court granted both requests.
¶ 19 On May 22, 2024, NAMD filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, seeking
to add allegations of an equal protection violation. In particular, NAMD stated that “MariGrow’s
brief brought certain facts to the attention of [p]laintiff’s counsel, namely the disparate treatment
of applicant and objectors by the Board in violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th
Amendment.” In the amended complaint attached to the motion, however, NAMD not only added
an equal protection claim but also added allegations naming two members who owned property
within 250 feet of the proposed dispensary and one member who would be specifically harmed by
the special use permit. On May 28, 2024, the court denied NAMD’s motion to amend its complaint.
¶ 20 On June 6, 2024, the court heard arguments from the parties on the motions to dismiss.
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¶ 21 On June 27, 2024, the court entered a written order denying NAMD’s complaint for
administrative review and affirming the Board’s decision. Specifically, the court found that
NAMD was not denied due process and had not demonstrated that it had standing to pursue the
administrative review action.
¶ 22 On July 18, 2024, NAMD filed a motion to reconsider the circuit court’s June 27, 2024,
decision, as well as the court’s denial of the motion for leave to amend NAMD’s complaint.
MariGrow filed a response, and NAMD filed a reply.
¶ 23 On September 11, 2024, the court denied NAMD’s motion to reconsider. Of note, in the
written order, the court pointed out that NAMD’s request to reconsider the denial of the motion
for leave to amend its complaint was untimely, as it should have been made within thirty days of
the court’s denial, which was entered May 28, 2024. Regardless, the court explained that the
motion to amend was denied because it was untimely, calculated to cause delay, and was an attempt
to add facts outside the record.
¶ 24 This appeal followed.
¶ 25 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 26 On appeal, NAMD argues that: (1) the Board denied NAMD due process and equal
protection when it denied its request for a continuance; (2) the circuit court abused its discretion
in denying NAMD leave to amend its complaint; (3) NAMD has standing to seek administrative
review of the Board’s decision; and (4) the circuit court abused its discretion when it declined to
remand this matter to the Board to further develop the record as to NAMD’s standing. 1
1 In its response brief, the Board only addresses the claim of standing but nonetheless adopts MariGrow’s arguments as to the other issues raised on appeal.
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¶ 27 Briefly, we note that NAMD’s statement of facts is rife with impermissible argument, such
as claiming that the Board “harangued” and “berated” Link and held a “sham” hearing, and it also
contains numerous statements that are not supported with citation to the record. This runs afoul of
our supreme court rules for appellate briefs. Rule 341(h)(6) provides that the statement of facts
should be “stated accurately and fairly without argument or comment, and with appropriate
reference to the pages of the record on appeal[.]” Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(6) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020). We
admonish counsel to heed this rule in the future.
¶ 28 A. Standard of Review
¶ 29 Generally, on appeal from administrative review proceedings, this court reviews the
agency’s decision, not the circuit court’s. Village of Alsip v. Portincaso, 2017 IL App (1st) 153167,
¶ 11. Here, however, we review the circuit court’s dismissal of NAMD’s complaint for
administrative review. See Rodriguez v. Sheriff’s Merit Commission of Kane County, 218 Ill. 2d
342, 357 (2006) (reviewing the circuit court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s complaint for
administrative review).
¶ 30 A motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-619.1 of the Code allows a party to combine a
section 2-615 motion to dismiss with a section 2-619 motion to dismiss. 735 ILCS 5/2-619.1 (West
2022); Grassroots Collaborative v. City of Chicago, 2020 IL App (1st) 192099, ¶ 21. A section 2-
615 motion challenges the sufficiency of the pleading, whereas a section 2-619 motion asserts that
an affirmative matter outside the pleading defeats the causes of action raised therein. Masters v.
Murphy, 2020 IL App (1st) 190908, ¶ 9. In reviewing a dismissal pursuant to either section 2-615
or 2-619 of the Code, we must accept all well-pleaded facts and any reasonable inferences arising
therefrom as true. In re Application for a Tax Deed, 2021 IL 126150, ¶ 17. We review de novo the
circuit court’s dismissal on a section 2-619.1 motion, regardless of whether the dismissal was
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based on section 2-615 or section 2-619. Kennedy v. City of Chicago, 2022 IL App (1st) 210492,
¶ 16. Accordingly, we may affirm the court’s judgment on any basis supported by the record,
regardless of the court’s reasoning. Id.
¶ 31 B. Standing
¶ 32 Because standing is a prerequisite to pursuing an administrative review action in the circuit
court, we address that issue first.
¶ 33 NAMD argues that it has standing to bring its administrative review action because (1)
there are members owning property within 250 feet of the proposed dispensary, and (2) NAMD
had alleged a specific adverse effect and damages to its members from the special use permit.
Notably, NAMD’s standing argument consists of two conclusory paragraphs, citing only the
statutory authority for standing and lacking citations to the record. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff.
Oct. 1, 2020) (providing that an appellant’s argument must contain “the contentions of the
appellant and the reasons therefor, with citation of the authorities and the pages of the record relied
on”). Failure to properly cite to the record may result in forfeiture of the argument. Hall v. Naper
Gold Hospitality LLC, 2012 IL App (2d) 111151, ¶ 11. Additionally, “[m]ere contentions, without
argument or citation to authority, do not merit consideration on appeal.” Id. The rules governing
appellate briefs are rules, not mere suggestions, and we may strike a brief and dismiss the appeal
for failure to comply with those rules. Niewold v. Fry, 306 Ill. App. 3d 735, 737 (1999). However,
because resolution of this issue is not difficult, we elect, in our discretion, to address the merits to
the extent necessary for resolution of this appeal.
¶ 34 Under Illinois law, “it is the defendant’s burden to plead and prove lack of standing.”
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 148, AFL-CIO v. Illinois Department of
Employment Security, 215 Ill. 2d 37, 45 (2005). For a not-for-profit corporation to have standing
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to bring suit on behalf of its members, it is required, inter alia, that at least one member would
otherwise have standing to pursue the action independently. Id. at 47 (quoting Hunt v. Washington
State Apple Advertising Comm’n, 432 U.S. 333, 343 (1977)); 805 ILCS 105/103.10(b) (West
2022). “Where a plaintiff lacks standing, the proceedings must be dismissed because the lack of
standing negates the plaintiff’s cause of action.” Sierra Club v. Office of Mines & Minerals of
Department of Natural Resources, 2015 IL App (4th) 140405, ¶ 22. Lack of standing is a question
of law which we review de novo. International Union, 215 Ill. 2d at 45.
¶ 35 “There is common-law standing, which requires an injury in fact to a legally recognized
interest, and there is statutory standing, which requires the fulfillment of statutory conditions to
sue for legislatively created relief.” (Citations omitted.) People v. Johnson, 2021 IL 125738, ¶ 31.
Relevant here, the Zoning Enabling Act expressly adopts the Administrative Review Law, which
governs actions to judicially review agency final decisions. 65 ILCS 5/11-11 (West 2022); 735
ILCS 5/3-102 (West 2022). Where adopted, the Administrative Review Law bars any other
statutory, equitable, or common-law mode of review of decisions of administrative agencies.”
Goral v. Dart, 2020 IL 125085, ¶ 34; see People ex rel. Naughton v. Swank, 58 Ill. 2d 95, 102
(1974) (stating that the Administrative Review Law “was designed to channel into a single
procedure the judicial review of the decisions made by administrative agencies in particular
cases”).
¶ 36 The Zoning Enabling Act specifically codifies the standing requirements for administrative
review of the Board’s decision. See 65 ILCS 5/11-13-7 (West 2022). The statute provides, in
pertinent part:
“Any property owner within the above stated 250 feet notice requirement, who
entered his or her appearance and objected at the board of appeals hearing, and who shows
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that his or her property will be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the
board may, without proof of any specific, special, or unique damages to himself or herself
or his or her property or any adverse effect upon his property from the proposed variation
or special use, seek judicial relief from any order or decision of the board of appeals under
the Administrative Review Law.” Id.
¶ 37 In interpreting statutory language, we must ascertain and give effect to the intent of the
legislature. Scott v. City of Chicago, 2015 IL App (1st) 140570, ¶ 11. This means considering the
plain language of the statute, and where clear and unambiguous, applying it “as written without
resorting to other rules of statutory construction.” Id. “We do not read in exceptions, conditions,
or limitations that were not expressed by the legislature.” Id. The plain and ordinary meaning of
this section is that “a property owner within 250 feet, who entered an appearance, who objected at
the board of appeals hearing, and who showed that his property would be substantially affected by
the board’s decision, may appeal the judgment of the board.” Podmajersky v. Zoning Board of
Appeals of City of Chicago, 131 Ill. App. 3d 1072, 1075 (1985).
¶ 38 Despite NAMD’s general assertion that it has members owning property within 250 feet
of the proposed dispensary, no such evidence is found in its complaint and counsel did not “have
that exact information” at the August 18 hearing before the Board. Because NAMD did not identify
any members owning property with 250 feet of the proposed dispensary at the hearing before the
Board and did not allege any such members in its complaint filed in the circuit court, it simply
cannot demonstrate standing under section 11-13-7. Although NAMD attempted to amend its
complaint and name two qualifying members, the circuit court denied NAMD’s motion to amend
and, as we explain below, that decision was proper. Moreover, “[j]udicial review of administrative
decisions is restricted to the record compiled by the agency, and no new or additional evidence
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shall be heard by the circuit court.” Baker v. Illinois Department of Employment Security, 2014 IL
App (1st) 123669, ¶ 23; 735 ILCS 5/3-110 (West 2022). NAMD also impermissibly attempted to
add this evidence in its reply to MariGrow’s motion to dismiss. In response, MariGrow asserted
that “the timing of [NAMD’s] associational standing revelation makes clear it undertook a post-
ZBA hearing membership drive.” Regardless of how NAMD obtained this new evidence, it is de
hors the record and cannot be considered.
¶ 39 Thus, the circuit court correctly determined that NAMD lacked standing to file a complaint
for administrative review of the Board’s decision.
¶ 40 C. Due Process and Equal Protection
¶ 41 Notwithstanding our conclusion that NAMD did not have standing to seek administrative
review, we also find that NAMD’s claims that it was denied due process and equal protection when
the Board denied NAMD’s request for a continuance are without merit. As to due process, NAMD
contends that the Board’s denial of the continuance was arbitrary and capricious. As to equal
protection, NAMD asserts that the Board treats applicants, such as MariGrow, and objectors, such
as NAMD, differently without a rational basis for doing so.
¶ 42 We first address the issue of due process.
¶ 43 Like judicial proceedings, administrative proceedings are also required to follow the
constitutional requirements of procedural due process. Trettenero v. Police Pension Fund of City
of Aurora, 333 Ill. App. 3d 792, 798-99 (2002). The main tenets of procedural due process are
meaningful notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. Id. at 799. “However, due process is
a flexible concept and requires only such procedural protections as fundamental principles of
justice and the particular situation demand.” Abrahamson v. Illinois Dept. of Professional
Regulation, 153 Ill. 2d 76, 92 (1992). Whether an administrative agency violated an individual’s
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right to due process is reviewed de novo. Engle v. Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation, 2018 IL App (1st) 162602, ¶ 40.
¶ 44 In this case, it is undisputed that MariGrow and the Board complied with all statutory notice
requirements. The Board stated in its findings of fact that proper notice was given prior to the
August 18 hearing, and NAMD does not argue otherwise. Additionally, a member of NAMD
admitted at the hearing that he was present at the June 1 community meeting, and counsel admitted
that NAMD became aware of the meeting two weeks prior to the hearing date. Where there was
compliance with the statutory requirements of notice, and NAMD had actual notice, it cannot be
said that NAMD was deprived of adequate notice. See Erickson v. Knox County Wind Farm, LLC,
2024 IL App (4th) 230726, ¶ 90. Instead, NAMD contends that the denial of its request for a
continuance violated due process because it was not permitted sufficient time to prepare and
present witnesses at the hearing, and therefore, it did not have a meaningful opportunity to be
heard.
¶ 45 The right to be heard simply means that the party has an opportunity to present its position
at the administrative proceeding. See American National Bank and Trust Co. v. City of Chicago,
209 Ill. App. 3d 96, 114 (1990). A review of the record shows that NAMD was given the
opportunity to cross-examine MariGrow’s witnesses and to present its own witnesses. In fact,
NAMD presented its opposition to the special use application through its witness, Link.
Additionally, the Board permitted NAMD’s counsel ample time to argue in support of the
continuance request. Nonetheless, NAMD argues that the only way it could have received a
meaningful opportunity to be heard under these circumstances was by the allowance of a 60-day
continuance.
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¶ 46 Agencies have broad discretion in conducting administrative hearings, including the
discretion to decide whether to allow a continuance. Sheehan v. Board of Fire & Police
Commissioners, 158 Ill. App. 3d 275, 286 (1987); Wilson v. Department of Professional
Regulation, 344 Ill. App. 3d 897, 911 (2003). However, this discretion must be exercised
judiciously and not arbitrarily, and “[a] continuance should not be denied where clearly it is
required by the ends of justice[.]” Brown v. Air Pollution Control Board, 37 Ill. 2d 450, 454 (1967).
¶ 47 NAMD contends that objectors, such as itself, “know little to nothing about the [special
use permit] process *** or how ZBA hearings are conducted” and may not know that
representation by counsel is necessary or that expert witnesses are needed. For this reason, NAMD
asserts that it should have been given additional time to prepare for the hearing, especially where
MariGrow had been allowed “significant time to prepare its case—far more time than [NAMD]
requested.”
¶ 48 However, NAMD’s arguments overlook the most significant factor that led to the Board’s
denial: its representative at the hearing admitted that he was present at a previous community
meeting two months earlier, signaling that NAMD’s failure to adequately prepare could not be
attributed to lack of notice or insufficient time. NAMD’s decision not to retain counsel and begin
preparing its opposition to the dispensary earlier does not render the Board’s decision arbitrary. In
conclusion, under these circumstances, justice did not require that the Board grant a continuance,
and thus, we find that the Board’s decision was not an abuse of discretion.
¶ 49 We now turn to the issue of equal protection. NAMD did not include a distinct claim for
an equal protection violation in its complaint for administrative review, and the circuit court
rejected its attempt to belatedly add that claim. We explain below why the court’s denial of
NAMD’s motion to amend was proper. Because the equal protection claim was not alleged in the
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complaint, it is not properly before this court. See Haudrich v. Howmedica, Inc., 169 Ill. 2d 525,
536 (1996) (issues not raised in the court below are deemed waived and may not be raised for the
first time on appeal). Nonetheless, because the issue was mentioned in the briefing below, we
briefly explain why this claim fails as well.
¶ 50 NAMD contends that the Board’s denial of its request for a continuance was “inconsistent
with its other decisions regarding continuances that same day.” NAMD further contends that the
Board routinely grants the continuance requests of applicants, such as MariGrow, but denied the
only request made by an objector that day. In response, MariGrow asserts that “equal protection
jurisprudence does not prohibit discretionary procedural rulings” and “[a] judge may deny a
continuance in one case and grant it in another without triggering a constitutional violation.” We
agree with MariGrow.
¶ 51 “The equal protection clause guarantees that similarly situated individuals will be treated
in a similar manner, unless the government can demonstrate an appropriate reason to treat those
individuals differently.” Caulkins v. Pritzker, 2023 IL 129453, ¶ 46. Where there is no fundamental
right or suspect class involved, an agency may differentiate between people who are similarly
situated if there is a rational basis for doing so. Strauss v. City of Chicago, 2021 IL App (1st)
191977, ¶ 45. Significantly, even where a differentiation passes constitutional muster, it may
nonetheless result in some inequality in practice. See id. ¶ 46.
¶ 52 It is clear from the record that the Board’s reasons for denying the continuance request
were that MariGrow had conducted extensive community engagement for over a year and had
several witnesses present and prepared to testify that day and NAMD failed to exercise due
diligence in preparing for the hearing despite having constructive and actual advance notice.
Contrary to NAMD’s suggestion, the Board’s decision was not based on NAMD’s classification
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as an “objector.” Thus, the equal protection clause is not implicated here and there can be no
violation.
¶ 53 D. Denial of Amendment to Complaint
¶ 54 Next, NAMD argues that the circuit court abused its discretion in denying NAMD leave to
amend its complaint.
¶ 55 Section 2-616(a) of the Code provides that “[a]t any time before final judgment
amendments may be allowed on just and reasonable terms[.]” 735 ILCS 5/2-616(a) (West 2022).
The right to amend, however, is not absolute or unlimited. I.C.S. Illinois, Inc. v. Waste
Management of Illinois, Inc., 403 Ill. App. 3d 211, 219 (2010). The decision of whether to grant
leave to amend a complaint rests within the sound discretion of the circuit court, and we will affirm
absent an abuse of that discretion. Id. “An abuse of discretion occurs only where no reasonable
person would take the view adopted by the trial court.” United Conveyor Corp. v. Allstate
Insurance Co., 2017 IL App (1st) 162314, ¶ 35.
¶ 56 A court must consider the following factors in determining whether to grant leave to amend
a pleading: “(1) whether the proposed amendment would cure the defective pleading; (2) whether
other parties would sustain prejudice or surprise by virtue of the proposed amendment; (3) whether
the proposed amendment is timely; and (4) whether previous opportunities to amend the pleading
could be identified.” Loyola Academy v. S & S Roof Maintenance, Inc., 146 Ill. 2d 263, 273 (1992).
“The party seeking leave to amend bears the burden of demonstrating that all four factors favor
the relief requested.” United Conveyor Corp., 2017 IL App (1st) 162314, ¶ 36.
¶ 57 However, “[w]here it is apparent even after amendment that no cause of action can be
stated, leave to amend should be denied.” Regas v. Associated Radiologists, Inc., 230 Ill. App. 3d
959, 968 (1992). For this reason, the court may consider the merits of the claim in the proposed
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amended pleading. I.C.S. Illinois, 403 Ill. App. 3d at 220. As we have explained above, NAMD’s
equal protection claim is meritless, and thus, amendment of the complaint would not have altered
the outcome in the circuit court.
¶ 58 Moreover, consideration of the Loyola factors demonstrates that the circuit court did not
abuse its discretion.
¶ 59 As to the first factor, NAMD contends that “the proposed amendment was intended to cure
the defects in the pleading with respect to standing[.]” NAMD’s amended complaint attempted to
add new facts that two of its members owned property within 250 feet of the proposed dispensary.
However, as we stated above, no new evidence can be submitted to the circuit court that was not
part of the administrative record. Thus, although NAMD’s amendment may have cured the
pleading defects related to standing, it was not permitted to make such an amendment.
¶ 60 As to the second factor, the amendment may not have surprised MariGrow. NAMD stated
in its motion that the new theory was actually brought to its attention through one of MariGrow’s
own filed pleadings. However, it would have prejudiced MariGrow, where briefing had already
been completed on the motions to dismiss. Granting the amendment would cause a substantial
delay to the proceedings for all parties to amend their briefs and would result in additional costs to
the parties.
¶ 61 The third and fourth factors also weigh in favor of the denial of amendment. A court may
deny a motion to amend if it was made “after an unreasonable length of time.” Loyola, 146 Ill. 2d
at 275. “The stage of litigation at which a proposed amendment is brought is certainly a relevant
consideration.” Hartzog, 372 Ill. App. 3d at 525-26. Here, the proposed amendment was not
timely, and NAMD concedes that it did not file its motion to amend on “the first possible day it
could have done so[.]” In particular, NAMD had more than six months to amend their complaint
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to add the equal protection claim and the parties had already submitted six briefs to the circuit
court. There was no reason why NAMD had to wait until the extensive briefing was completed to
request amendment. Nonetheless, NAMD contends that it did not seek to amend the complaint
sooner because of “extensive discussions” among counsel and members of NAMD that preceded
the filing of the motion. We do not find that explanation persuasive.
¶ 62 Therefore, we find the circuit court’s denial of NAMD’s motion for leave to amend its
complaint was not an abuse of discretion.
¶ 63 E. Remand
¶ 64 Finally, NAMD contends that the circuit court erred in denying NAMD’s request for
remand to the Board to develop the record as to standing.
¶ 65 Section 3-111 of the Administrative Review Law provides a list of the circuit court’s
powers in an administrative review action. 735 ILCS 5/3-111 (West 2022). Relevant here,
subsection (7) states that, “where a hearing has been held by the agency,” the circuit court has the
power “to remand for the purpose of taking additional evidence when from the state of the record
of the administrative agency or otherwise it shall appear that such action is just.” The statute
continues:
“However, no remandment shall be made on the ground of newly discovered
evidence unless it appears to the satisfaction of the court that such evidence has in fact been
discovered subsequent to the termination of the proceedings before the administrative
agency and that it could not by the exercise of reasonable diligence have been obtained at
such proceedings; and that such evidence is material to the issues and is not cumulative[.]”
Id.
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¶ 66 Whether to remand an action to the administrative agency “for the purpose of presenting
new evidence is a matter of sound discretion of the circuit court.” Baker, 2014 IL App (1st) 123669,
¶ 23; see also Caliendo v. Martin, 250 Ill. App. 3d 409, 419 (1993) (same); Board of Education of
Minooka Community Consolidated School District No. 201 of Kendall, Will, and Grundy Counties
v. Ingels, 75 Ill. App. 3d 334, 337 (1979) (stating that the power to remand under the
Administrative Review Law is discretionary).
¶ 67 Again, NAMD’s brief contains cursory argument on this issue, citing a single case, Appel
v. Zoning Board of Appeals of City of Mattoon, 120 Ill. App. 2d 401 (1970), for support. See supra
¶ 32. In any case, Appel is not relevant here.
¶ 68 In that case, following a public hearing, at which the plaintiffs were present, the Zoning
Board granted the defendants’ conditional use petition. Id. at 402. The plaintiffs filed a complaint
for administrative review in the circuit court, alleging that they were adversely affected by the
decision. Id. The circuit court dismissed the complaint, and in an order denying the plaintiffs’
posttrial motion, the court stated that the plaintiffs failed to present evidence in the circuit court
that they had standing to pursue the action. Id. at 402-03. On appeal, the Fourth District of this
court reversed and remanded. Id. at 406. In doing so, the court stated that an administrative
proceeding is ineffective where the agency preserves no record and, thus, where the record is
insufficient, the circuit court should remand to the agency. Id. at 404-05. The facts of the case
before us are markedly different from those in Appel. Here, the administrative agency held a
hearing and the transcript from that proceeding was preserved and introduced as an exhibit attached
to NAMD’s complaint. As such, Appel is inapposite.
¶ 69 Moreover, our review of the record demonstrates that NAMD did not exercise due
diligence in obtaining the evidence necessary to prove the standing of its members to pursue an
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administrative action. Even disregarding that at least one of its members had knowledge of
MariGrow’s application well in advance of the August 2023 hearing, NAMD still had two weeks
to determine if any of its members lived within 250 feet of the subject property and failed to obtain
that information. NAMD also does not provide any reasonable excuse as to why the members’
addresses could not have been obtained sooner. It strains credulity to believe that the members’
addresses were not a prerequisite for joining the organization. Thus, we reject this argument and
find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in declining to remand the action to the Board.
See Baker, 2014 IL App (1st) 123669, ¶ 27 (finding that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion
in declining to remand where the plaintiff did not exercise due diligence in securing a witness’s
participation at the administrative hearing).
¶ 70 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 71 For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
¶ 72 Affirmed.
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