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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – November 6, 2024 2 <br /> <br />that will deal with cannabis. The first draft of the rules were made available on July 30, 2024, <br />and A Guide for Local Governments on Adult-Use Cannabis (Local Guide) was published this <br />year with the most recent version being updated in August. The OCM recently closed the <br />application period of Social Equity Applicants and received over 1,800 applications. Licenses are <br />anticipated to be issued shortly after the rules from OCM are finalized in 2025. <br /> <br />Consultant Planner Hofer reported a considerable number of changes to the City Code will be <br />required to address the registration of cannabis businesses and the use of cannabis, however, the <br />zoning ordinance is specifically used to control for the time, place, and manner of the operations <br />of a cannabis business provided that such restrictions do not prohibit the establishment or <br />operation of cannabis businesses. Notably, if the City wishes to limit the amount of cannabis <br />retail businesses within the City, this should not be done in the zoning ordinance, but in the <br />section that establishes standards for registration. Nonretail businesses cannot be limited by <br />number, but can be zoned for specific areas of the City. <br /> <br />Consultant Planner Hofer reviewed the proposed Ordinance in further detail with the <br />Commission recommending approval of Planning Case 24-019 for a Zoning Code Amendments <br />to Chapter 13 of the Arden Hills City Code to establish definitions for cannabis uses, establish <br />zoning districts for cannabis uses, and establish performance standards for cannabis uses, based <br />on the findings of fact and as presented in the November 6, 2024 Report to the Planning <br />Commission. <br /> <br />Consultant Planner Hofer reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this <br />matter: <br /> <br />1. Recommend Approval <br />2. Recommend Approval with Amendments <br />3. Recommend Denial <br />4. Table <br /> <br />Chair Weber opened the floor to Commissioner comments. <br /> <br />Chair Weber commented on an error within the Ordinance that may violate the OCM <br />requirements. He reviewed the hours of operation suggested in Section 3.3 within the model <br />Ordinance, which was from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. He stated this violates OCM regulations as <br />businesses were allowed to be open until 9:00 p.m. He recommended the hours be changed from <br />8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins asked if this ordinance update will effect restaurants that currently could <br />not sell THC drinks but could sell alcohol. <br /> <br />Consultant Planner Hofer explained the proposed Ordinance does not have any language <br />regarding low potency hemp and THC products. He indicated the Ordinance does address the <br />manufacturing of these products. He commented the sale of THC beverages and other low <br />potency hemp products was considered and approved in 2023. <br /> <br />Commissioner Collins reported Indeed Brewing creates alcoholic beverages and THC <br />beverages. He inquired if this Ordinance would restrict this activity.