01-08-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

3 The structures in the I-1 District are typically older than those in the I-2. Moreover, properties in the I- 1 Zoning District are generally a further distance from residential users than I-2 zoned properties. The Ordinance would not allow these types of cannabis uses to be adjacent to a residentially zoned property or nonconforming residential use. Interim Use The proposed ordinance has all types of cannabis uses allowed as interim uses. This provides the City with a slightly higher-level of discretion on specific locations however, most applicants will likely meet the standards to be approved. The benefit of making cannabis an interim use is not necessarily in having discretion to “choose” an applicant but in the ability to hold nuisance businesses accountable and ensure that the City is aware of changes to ownership or operation the business. Buffers At their December 18th meeting, the City Council requested that cannabis buffers be consistent with City regulations on tobacco and alcohol. The original version of the cannabis ordinances reviewed at the December 18th would have required 500’ buffers from daycares and residential treatment facilities. The city does not require buffers from daycares or residential treatment facilities for tobacco and alcohol, so Staff have removed them from the cannabis proposal. The proposed ordinance would require that any cannabis use be separated/buffered 500’ from the following: 1. Schools 2. Parks with an item for minor attraction Competing Applicant Scoring Under OCM guideline, the city is only provided with 30 days to respond to a retail registration application. If the applicant meets the relevant standards, we are not permitted to deny them. To avoid the process of retail registration being solely first-come-first-serve, Staff have created a process to allow other interested cannabis retail businesses to submit within a fifteen (15) day window of the first submittal. Staff have established the following scoring system (Section 827.070, Page 5 of Attachment 1): C. Scoring. Should more than one (1) application be received within the review period, City Staff will review the applications and assign scores based on the criteria provided in this Section. 1. Applicants will receive one (1) point for each of the following standards that they meet: (a) If the proposed location will only be used for the retail sale of cannabis. (b) If the applicant is a resident of Little Canada. Applicants must provide proof of their residence in Little Canada, Minnesota at the time of application. 2. Applicants will receive (3) points if they meet the following standard: (a) If the proposed location is a single-tenant building, rather than where two or more business uses are located within one structure or on one property. 3. In the event of a tie between applicants with the same total points, priority will be given to the highest-scoring applicant who submitted their completed application first.