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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 25, 2024 Page 5 1 City Planner Grittman reviewed the City Council considered the first reading of amendments to 2 the Zoning Ordinance related to cannabis retailing at its regular meeting on June 11, 2024. The 3 Council discussed aspects of the proposed ordinance, with two suggested additions to the 4 language. First was the inclusion of residential substance abuse treatment centers to the list of 5 land uses that would be included in the separation buffers being created by the Code. The second 6 was to increase the proposed separation buffer for childcare centers to 300 feet, from the 7 Planning Commission's recommendation of 100 feet. The proposed ordinance includes those 8 changes. The language of the code recommends that the separation from treatment centers to be 9 listed as "licensed" centers by the State of Minnesota. The City can research properly licensed 10 facilities and make an informed judgment about distance and registration. There are some 11 "treatment" facilities that operate as "sober houses" or other similar unlicensed programming 12 which would not be trackable. Staff has inserted a 300 foot separation buffer for these uses in the 13 proposed language. 14 15 Staff requests that the City Council consider the second reading of the attached Ordinance 2024- 16 03. Staff continues to recommend that the moratorium ordinance enacted last August continue in 17 force as further materials are generated by the State of Minnesota over the next several months. 18 19 Mr. Grittman noted the Planning Commission will be asked to further discuss the separation 20 distance aspects of the potential regulations and raise other issues as they may impact a final 21 ordinance adoption. With these comments, and if the proposed Ordinance amendments reflect 22 those discussions, forwarding the zoning amendment to the City Council would be in order. If 23 the Planning Commission agrees, staff recommends approval of a draft zoning regulation that 24 creates the separation distances for schools (1,000 feet), parks (500 feet — specifically for Central 25 Park, Emerald Park, Silver Point Park, Trillium Park, and Water Tower Park), and either a 26 specific distance or an "abutting property" separation for childcare facilities. 27 28 Mr. Grittman provided for Council consideration the State Law — Local Control, Map of 29 Separation Distance Impacts and the Draft Ordinance Amendment. The Office of Cannabis 30 Management is already sending out information to Cities. 31 32 Councilmember Randle stated there is a group that is being left out — senior facilities. Mr. 33 Grittman stated the State does not give St. Anthony authority to create a buffer zone for senior 34 facilities. 35 36 Mayor Webster stated the distance the City agrees to for a buffer can be greater than what the 37 State determines. 38 39 Councilmember Doolan asked what the definition of schools is for this resolution. Mr. Grittman 40 stated it would cover all state -licensed schools. More guidance on home -schooling and family 41 daycares should be coming from the State. Councilmember Doolan asked if a license has been 42 granted and something moves next door to it, would the license that was issued take precedence. 43 Mr. Grittman stated that is correct and is a general operation of law. 44