11-06-2024 PC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 4 of 5 • A 1,000 ft. setback from schools as allowed by Minnesota State Statue • Use specific standards for indoor cultivation of cannabis-related to character area standards, odors, screening, lighting, and water management. • Use specific standards for cannabis microbusiness including consumption standards and references to other sections. • Use specific standards for light manufacturing, cannabis-related to hours of operation, warehousing, odors, screening, waste storage, lighting, and water management. Two aspects of cannabis uses have known potential for nuisances which are not addressed in the first draft of rules from OCM; odor and lighting. The draft language includes language to address these potential nuisances. Odor Control OCM has left odor control to be controlled at the local level aside from Minnesota Pollution Control Standards for nuisances. The draft standards include a condition that odor control systems be installed for uses where odor would be expected as part of the regular businesses (indoor cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling). In researching standards for this, some communities require verification from a qualified industrial hygienist that appropriate odor control systems have been installed and continual monitoring was required. If the City wished to require this, the standards should be modified to reflect this. Lighting All uses will be required to meet the standards within the City Code for outdoor lighting, however, indoor cultivation has a specific need for lighting to facilitate plant growth. Indoor cultivation done in greenhouses will have semi-transparent structures and during the winter months, the indoor illumination needed for the plants to grow will be obvious from outside of the structure. In researching the use in other communities, it was found that 4:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. was a time frame that was used to allow this. Cannabis requires a lighting cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness for ideal growing conditions. This time frame could be more limited if the City desired. Outdoor Prohibition As part of a cultivator, microbusiness, and mezzobusiness license, cultivation is allowed and can either be indoor cultivation (greenhouses, hydroponics) or outdoor cultivation. Outdoor cultivation is not expected to be largely utilized as the growing conditions in Minnesota are not optimal for cannabis. Regardless, as the City has no agricultural districts or uses within it, the draft language includes a prohibition for outdoor uses. Cannabis Testing Facilities The City Council discussed testing facilities and requirements around the use at the October 14, 2024, work session. Ultimately it was determined based on the conversation at the work session that it would be beneficial to create a new use specifically for cannabis testing facilities rather than trying to use existing uses such as “Research and development facilities.”