Notice is hereby given that the Lake County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, during its regularly scheduled meeting beginning at 2:00 PM or soon thereafter, at the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider ordaining and adopting an emergency interim ordinance, in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 394.34 and § 342.13, enacting a moratorium prohibiting cannabis businesses through December 31, 2024. The proposed moratorium would be effective upon the approval of the Lake County Board of Commissioners and would include all of Lake County except for the City of Silver Bay and the City of Two Harbors. Lake County Board of Commissioners upon adoption of any moratorium will undertake a process to study and conduct hearings on amending or adopting official controls relating to cannabis.
All persons interested are invited to attend the public hearing. Written comments may be submitted to clerk.board@co.lake. mn.us or by U.S. Postal Service mail to Lake County Service Center, Attn: Lake County Administrator, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota, 55616. All written submissions must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2024, and will be read into the record during the public hearing, including name and address.
Considerations:
Lake County is in the process of researching and studying legislation relating to cannabis businesses and their impact on the comprehensive plan, planning and zoning, and other official controls allowed by local units of government by the legislation. The County will need additional time to undertake a process to amend or adopt official controls relating to cannabis businesses in order to consider reasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of the operation of cannabis businesses in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.
State Role:
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) will propagate Minnesota Rules. They will establish a license system and be responsible for licensing cannabis businesses. OCM has developed a Local Government Toolkit. Local government staff can use this workbook for guidance regarding the local government’s role in the application, licensing, and regulatory system for the cannabis industry. The guidance includes a draft model ordinance for local government staff to reference in the development of ordinances. Follow this link to the toolkit: https://mn.gov/ocm/local-governments/ .
