PUBLIC HEARING - Amendment to Section 106-105, Definition of Manufacturing 

The State's recent legalization of adult-use cannabis requires municipalities to update their regulations around this topic.  When it comes to zoning, cities need to allow a certain number of businesses for retail sales and production based on population.  It has been determined that Ramsey's zoning regulations surrounding retail sales uses are sufficient to meet the State Law as retail sales are allowed in all business zoning districts.  If grown outside, the Rural Residential (RR) and MUSA Reserve (MR) districts allow agricultural uses.  In the industrial zones (I-1 and I-2), manufacturing needs to include cannabis cultivation.  It is more secure and more likely that cannabis will be grown indoors in a secured facility.  Below is the current definition of manufacturing with the proposed cannabis language underlined:

    "Manufacturing means the processing or assembly of raw materials or parts into finished goods through the use of tools, human labor, machinery, and chemical processing. This definition includes hydroponics as well as state-regulated cannabis cultivation."

This change would allow the indoor growing of cannabis plants in the industrial areas only if it is grown both hydroponically (in a water solution) or in soils (the more likely way it would be grown).  The Council will be working on proposed licensing regulations that will be housed in Chapter 26 will include some siting standards and limits on the numbers of licenses.   

A public notice was provided in the September 13 Anoka Union Herald Newspaper.  

Costs of this project are considered a part of staff's typical duties.  

Staff recommends approval of the proposed ordinance.  

Motion to recommend approval of Ordinance #24-13 amending Section 106-105 Zoning Code Definitions.