The Two Harbors City Council held a brief hearing at the top of their Monday night meeting to get public input on changes to City Code Chapter 11 which will allow for the operation of cannabis and hemp businesses in the city. Chapter 11 of the city code specifies the parameters around which businesses can operate. Cassidy Gow, owner of Two Harbors Cannabis was on hand and is looking forward to working with the Council on the particulars of expanding her business under Minnesota’s laws that legalized recreational marajuana back in 2023. Two Harbors Cannabis and Smoke Shop has been in business since 2023 and is located in the upper level of The Landing, at 629 7th Avenue. The Council voted to amend Chapter 11, allowing for cannabis businesses to move forward.
Jason Hale, of North Shore Development, out of Wayzata, presented the council with a proposal on the development of a multi-family housing complex. Discussions have been ongoing with City Administrator Patty Nordean and members of the Lake County HRA Board about the project. The proposed project would go a long way toward meeting housing needs in the city. At this point, the project would include 75 mixed income apartment units and would include some units that are ADA (Americans with Disabilities) accessible. The number of ADA units that were discussed at the council meeting was 2% of units overall. It seems like there may be a need to plan for more such units as part of the target population for the housing development would be senior adults who currently own a home in Two Harbors but are past retirement and are looking to get out from under home ownership. The process is underway to seek grant funding from the IRRR which has indicated that they are interested in partnering on the project. The hope is that all of the details for this project can be worked through so that construction can begin in the Spring of next year. City and County officials have all expressed an interest in seeing the project come to fruition.
Bill Hermanson and the folks from United Church are supporting a Habitat for Humanity project this summer. They are sponsoring a group of young people from South Eastern Kansas who are coming to town to help make home repairs for some senior members of the community. The Council voiced their support of the project and voted to waive the fees for using the shower facilities at the Burlington Bay campground, for the group, while they are in town.
The next Two harbors City Council meeting will be held on June 23rd at 5:30.
