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Hastings
MINNESOTA
Planning Commission Memorandum
To: Planning Commission
From: Justin Fortney, City Planner
Date: September 9, 2024
Item: Public Hearing — Special Use Permit (SUP) — Cannabis Retail Sales — Hussein Alobaidi
(Smokies Tobacco) — 300 Vermillion Street
REQUEST
The Planning Commission is asked to take the following actions related to the Special Use
Permit (SUP) application of Norma Pacheco to conduct cannabis retail sales at Smokies Tobacco
located at 300 Vermillion St on property owned by Gregory and Susan Jablonske:
1) Hold a public hearing.
2) Review the SUP application and provide a recommendation to City Council.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Cannabis Business Regulations
In November 2023, the City adopted Chapter 155.07, Subd. J of the Zoning Code to allow for
Cannabis Businesses. The ordinance outlines performance standards and prohibited acts
pertaining to cannabis. Cannabis sales were added as a Special Use permit in the C-3
Community Regional Commerce and C-4 Regional Shopping Center Districts. The city also
adopted licensing requirements under City Code Chapter 117 that are similar to those adopted in
the zoning code.
Cannabis Business License
An application for a cannabis business license has been submitted along with the SUP
application and will be considered by the City Council in conjunction with action on the SUP.
Notification and Public Hearing
Notification of the request was mailed to all property owners within 350 feet. Staff has not
received any comments at this time.
Comprehensive Plan Classification
The 2040 Comprehensive Plan designates the property as Commercial. The proposed use is
consistent with the plan.
Zoning Classification
The property is C-3 — Community Regional Commerse. The C-3 District allows for cannabis
retailers as a special use.
Adjacent Zoning and Land Use
Direction Property Use Zoning Comp Plan
North 3rd St W C-3 Commercial
- Loop Road
- Comfort By Design
East Public Square C-3 Commercial
City hall
South Retail/ Office space C-3 Commercial
West Parking lot C-3 Commercial
- fourplex
Existing Condition
Smokies Tobacco is a relatively new business. The site was formerly a cellular phone shop. They
have a current tobacco license. A plainclothes investigator purchased a cannabis product by an
adult recently. This occurred before they were aware of the SUP requirements, but they were
previously advised that any cannabis products would require a separate license application.
SPECIAL USE PERMIT REVIEW
Background
Hastings City Code Chapter 155.32, Subd. C.6 — allows cannabis retailers and edible retailers as
a "special use" within the C-3 Zoning District, subject to the requirements of 155.07, Subd. J as
follows:
2. Performance Standards.
a. A cannabis business shall only operate in an authorized zoning district with
approved State and local license or registration.
b. Any person selling or distributing cannabis products shall require proof of age by
means of government issued photographic identification from the prospective
purchaser showing purchaser is twenty-one (21) years old or older.
c. Signage identifying the legal sales age and the age verification requirement shall
be posted at the point of sale. The required signage shall be posted in a manner so
that it is clearly visible to anyone who is considering or making a purchase. The
sign shall provide notice that all persons responsible for selling these products
must verify the age of any person under thirty (30) years of age, by means of
photographic identification required in this section, containing the bearer's date of
birth.
d. Cannabis products must comply with the testing, labeling and packaging
requirements in Minnesota State law.
e. No sales or distribution of intoxicating cannabis products shall be allowed at the
licensed premises after 10:00 p.m. or before 8:00 a.m.
f. It shall be unlawful for a retailer to allow the sale of intoxicating cannabis
products or cannabis related devices by any means whereby a customer has access
to such items without having to request the item from the retailer or the retailer's
employee. There shall be a physical exchange of the intoxicating cannabis product
or cannabis -related devices between the retailer or the retailer's employee and the
customer. All intoxicating cannabis products and cannabis -related devices shall be
either store behind a counter or other area not freely accessible to customers, or in
a storage unit or case not open and accessible to the general public.
g. All retail establishments of intoxicating cannabis products shall have a security
plan approved by the Police Chief stating how the facility will address public
health, welfare and safety concerns including, but not limited to security, fencing,
lighting, window coverings, door placement, and landscaping.
h. Compliance Checks and Inspections
All licensed premises must be open to inspection by the local law enforcement or
other authorized City officials during regular business hours. From time to time,
but at least once per year, the City will conduct compliance checks on Retailers
and Edible Retailers of intoxicating cannabis products by engaging persons
between the ages of seventeen (17) and twenty-one (21) years, to enter the
licensed premises to attempt to purchase intoxicating cannabis products. Persons
used for compliance checks are not guilty of the unlawful purchase or attempted
purchase, nor the unlawful possession of intoxicating cannabis products when the
items are obtained or attempted to be obtained as a part of the compliance check.
No person used in compliance checks may attempt to use a false identification
misrepresenting the person's age, and all persons lawfully engaged in a
compliance check may answer all questions about the person's age asked by the
retailer or his or her employee and shall produce any identification, if any exists,
for which he or she is asked. Nothing in this section prohibits compliance checks
authorized by State or Federal laws for educational, research or training purposes,
or required for the enforcement of a particular State or Federal law.
3. Prohibited Acts.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, purchase, obtain or otherwise provide
any intoxicating cannabis product to any person under the age of twenty-one (21).
b. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one (21) to possess
any intoxicating cannabis product. This chapter shall not apply to persons under
the age of 21 lawfully involved in a compliance check.
c. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one (21) to use or
consume any intoxicating cannabis product, unless it is legally authorized medical
cannabis.
d. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one (21) attempt to
disguise the person's true age by the use of a false form of identification, whether
the identification is that of another person or one in which the age of the person
has been modified or tampered with, to represent an age older than the actual age
of the person, in order to purchase any intoxicating cannabis product.
e. No adult -use cannabinoid or cannabis product may contain more than 0 3% of
THC
f. No edible cannabis product can contain an amount of THC that exceeds the per
serving or per packaging requirements in Minnesota State law.
g. No intoxicating cannabis product may be sold to an obviously intoxicated person
or a person under the influence of a controlled substance.
h. No one under the age of twenty-one (21) shall sell intoxicating cannabis products.
i. Intoxicating cannabis products cannot be sold in vending machines, by transient
merchants, peddlers, at a movable place of business, through a drive-through
window, at special events, home occupations, by internet sales or delivery service.
j. No sampling or free donation or distributions of intoxicating cannabis products is
allowed.
k. No sales of intoxicating cannabis products may be completed through self -check-
out. The retailer or retailer's employee must process each transaction at a point of
sale.
Analysis
• Cannabis sales are allowed as a special use within C-3 zoning district. Operational license
to be considered by City Council.
• The above are also part of the annual licensing requirements. The Hastings Police
Department has approved the security plan for the facility and the business is subject to
periodic review by the Hastings Police Department.
Special Use Permit Requirements
Special Use Permit review is outlined in Chapter 30.02, Subd. E.2.b.5 of the City Code and
subject to adherence to the following (staff analysis appears in red)
1. Ingress and egress to property and proposed structures thereon with particular reference to
automotive and pedestrian safety and convenient traffic flow and control, and access in
case of fire or catastrophe; Ingress and egress to the property will be unchanged. The sale
of cannabis products on site will not require changes to ingress and egress.
2. Off-street parking and loading areas where required, with particular attention to division
(E)(2)(b)5. a. above, and the economic, noise, glare, or odor effects of the special use on
adjoining properties and properties generally in the district; Parking and loading is
adequate, and the proposed use will not require changes. The property is surrounded by
other commercial uses as well as a large parking lot.
3. Refuse and service areas, with particular reference to items divisions (E)(2)(b)5.a. and
(E)(2)(b)5. b. above; The sale of cannabis products will not increase the need for refuse
areas.
4. Utilities, with reference to locations, availability, and compatibility; Utility service is
adequate and will not change with cannabis sales.
5. Screening and buffering with reference to type, dimensions, and character; Screening and
buffering is adequate and will not change with cannabis sales.
6. Signs, if any, and proposed exterior lighting with reference to glare, traffic safety, economic
effect, and compatibility and harmony with properties in the district; Staff is not aware of
any changes affecting these items.
7. Required yards and other open space; Yards and open space are unchanged.
8. General compatibility with adjacent properties and other properties in the district. Property
abuts mostly commercially zoned properties.
Recommendation
Approval of the Special Use Permit is recommended subject to the following requirements:
1) Maintaining a Cannabis Products Retail License from the Hastings City Clerk's Office.
2) Adherence to Hastings City Code Chapter 117 — Cannabis Businesses and Chapter
155.07, Subd. J — Cannabis Businesses.
Attachments
• Location Map
• Site Picture
• Application
LOCATION MAP
ince 1857
Hastings
MINNESOTA
-#aoau- 36
City of Hastings
Community Development Department
Land Use Application
Address or PID of Property: 300 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033
Applicant Name: Hussein Alobaidi
Address: 2716 103rd Ct NE, Blaine, MN 55449
Phone: 612-735-9359
Property Owner: Greg Jablonske
Address: 1465 Rivershore Dr, Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: 651-248-0366
Fax: Fax:
Email: Husseinalobaidi1991@yahoo.com Email: Gregjablonske@edinarealty.com
Description of Request: Product Retail License ( Obtain cannabis product retail license )
If requesting site plan review of multi -family units (three or more attached), are the units intended to be
for sale or rental units?
Check Applicable Line(s) Please Note: All Fees and Escrows are due at time of application.
Ti Rezone $500 Minor Subdivision $500
n Final Plat $600 Special Use Permit $500
Variance $300 n Comp Plan Amend. $500
Vacation $500 = Lot Split/Lot Line Adj. $75
House Move $500 n Annexation $500 +$5,000 escrow
Prelim Plat $500 + $5,000 escrow n. EAW $500 + $5,000 escrow
Site Plan $500 + $5,000 escrow Interim Use Permit $500
n
Total Amount Due: $ 500
Make checks payable to City of Hastings.
Most credit cards accepted, excluding escrow payments.
Please ensure that all copi of required documents are attached.
08/20/2024
Applicant Signature Date
Hussein Alobaidi/ President
Applicant Name and Title — Please Print
Own S re
Greg Jablonske
Date
Owner Name — Please Print
OFFICIAL USE ONLY /
File # AL -1-3(a Rec'd By: 1j --(A b'►it/1 Date Rec'd: 840)41
Fee Paid: P/- Receipt # App. Complete
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
This is to certify that I am making application for the described action by the city and that I am
responsible for complying with all city requirements with regard to this request. This application
should be processed in my name and I am the party whom the city should contact regarding any
matter pertaining to this application.
I have read and understand the instructions supplied for processing this application. The
documents and/or information I have submitted are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
I will keep myself informed of the deadlines for submission of material and of the progress of this
application.
understand that this application may be reviewed by city staff and consultants. 1 further
understand that additional information, including, but not limited to, traffic analysis and expert
testimony may be required for review of this application. I agree to pay to the city upon demand,
expenses, determined by the city, that the city incurs in reviewing this application and shall
provide an escrow deposit to the city in an amount to be determined by the city. Said expenses
shall include, but are not limited to, staff time, engineering, legal expenses and other consultant
expenses.
I agree to allow access by city personnel to the property for purposed of review of my application
and to erect a temporary sign indicating the application proposed.
Signature of applicant
Name of applicant Hussein Alobaidi
(Please Print)
Date 08/20/2024
Phone 612-735-9359
Name and address of Contact (if other than applicant)
Suhad Alobaidi
12981 Avocet St NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 Store Manager
612-999-5512 08/20/2024
Phone Number Date