Laserfiche WebLink
Date: November 12, 2024 Item: 17 <br />Presenter: Laura Oakden, Community Development Director <br />Section: Community Development Report <br /> <br />Title: LA24-0000055, Cannabis setback text amendment - Ordinance 306 <br /> <br /> <br />1.Purpose: <br />The City of Orono is proposing ordinance to amend the Zoning Code to allow cannabis businesses <br />as permitted uses within business and industrial districts only when specific setbacks are met. <br />2.Background: <br />During the 2022 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature legalized cannabis. In 2023, the <br />City of Orono put a moratorium on cannabis businesses throughout the city. Throughout 2024, the <br />city has been working with state guidelines and the Hennepin County licensing program to <br />develop the appropriate local regulations for cannabis businesses. The State anticipates it will <br />begin issuing cannabis licenses for high-potency cannabis beginning in 2025. <br />Per State Statue 342, the local municipality can implement registration, inspections, and zoning <br />buffers for cannabis businesses. At the August 12, 2024 work session the city council reviewed the <br />role and policies for the city. The council gave direction for city staff to work with Hennepin <br />County regarding registration and inspection requirements. They also directed staff to develop a <br />zoning amendment to apply buffers allowed by state legislation and amend the definition section <br />of the City Code. <br /> <br />State statue allows for municipalities to apply the following buffers: <br />1. 1,000 feet from schools <br />2. 500 feet from daycare, parks with amenities for minors and residential treatment facilities. <br />3.Analysis: <br />Currently, if high potency cannabis businesses were to apply to develop in the city, they would <br />need to meet the zoning requirements of the district, which include retail/store fronts in the <br />business district and industrial uses in the industrial district. Within the business district, retail <br />cannabis would only be permitted in the B-1, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6 RPUD districts and <br />warehousing/manufacturing would be permitted in the industrial District. <br /> <br />Staff suggests listing cannabis businesses as its own permitted use within the business and <br />industrial districts, with the requirement that the stipulated buffers are met. Once a business <br />registration application has been submitted, the governing body has thirty (30) days to approve or <br />deny. Staff has drafted the proposed language for review that defines cannabis businesses and lists <br />cannabis business as permitted uses when they meet the buffer standards within business and <br />industrial zone districts. <br /> <br />4.Planning Commission Vote and Comment: <br />The Planning Commission reviewed the draft ordinance and help a public hearing at the October <br />21, 2024 meeting. The Commissioners raised some questions with allowing cannabis businesses <br />as permitted uses. The commission discussed if churches could qualify as schools. Additionally, <br />AGENDA ITEM <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />140