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Minutes <br />Planning Commission Regular Meeting <br />Monday,October 21, 2024, 6:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />5.4.LA24-000055 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT, CANNABIS, PUBLIC HEARING <br />The Planning Commission is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation,and discuss the <br />proposed regulations for Cannabis businesses in the City within the conditions allowed by State law. The <br />State can begin issuing licenses in 2025.Community Development Director Oakden explained once an <br />application is received State law allows the City 30 days to react, which is shorter than the Conditional <br />Use Permit process. For that reason,staff is proposing Cannabis businesses as permitted uses in business <br />and industrial districts except for the buffer areas around schools, parks, daycares and other similar uses <br />identified by law. Oakden said the buffers proposed are the strictest the City can designate.The new <br />regulations are for high-potency Cannabis businesses including retail and manufacturing. <br />The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff.Discussion centered on the <br />buffer areas.They asked if the buffer can be applied to churches that have Sunday School and other <br />similar activities for children. Commissioners complimented staff on taking the initiative to be prepared <br />for any applications that come forward in 2025. <br />Chair Bollis opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. <br />There were no public comments. <br />Chair Bollis closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. <br />Commissioners expressed frustration with some of the State rules and concerns about turning the process <br />to issue registrations over to Hennepin County, as the City Council has discussed. Hennepin County has <br />offered to manage the registration process within State Statute. The City would need to indicate that the <br />request was for a location in an allowed area. Action at this meeting was to deal only with the text <br />amendment setting areas and buffers for a permitted use. <br />Kraemer moved, Schultze seconded, to approve LA24-000055, draft City of Orono Text <br />Amendment, Cannabis. VOTE: Ayes: 4, Nays 1 (Erickson). <br />6.NEW BUSINESS <br />6.1 LA24-000054, ROB PAGE, 430 OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD, SITE PLAN REVIEW <br />The site plan would be for an 85-unit garage condo development, which consists of purchased interior <br />storage units for cars boats and RVs that could be used as storage by individuals or a business such as an <br />electrician. The site is the last vacant property in the industrial area. Staff does not support the plan as <br />proposed due to the potential for residential conversion. Staff could support it as a storage facility with <br />conditions and suggested a text amendment to include garage condos as a conditional use. <br />The Planning Commission discussed the item and asked questions of staff and the applicant, Rob Page. <br />He said the facility would have no common areas and no place to congregate,and residential habitation <br />would be prohibited. It would be proposed to be built in three phases. It would be managed by an HOA, <br />which is the reason for the condo designation. <br />5