Fergus Falls planning commission recommends approval of two cannabis retail interim use permits

The Fergus Falls City Planning Commission on a unanimous-when-voting recommendation moved both applications for interim use permits for cannabis retail sales to the city council, with one commissioner recording an abstention. The applications were for Sugar High Cannabis Consulting LLC to locate at 112 Washington Avenue East and for Elevate Cannabis Dispensary LLC to operate at 214 Lincoln Avenue West.

Planning staff member Clara Beck opened both hearings and said the permits are sought under the city’s interim use permit process after changes at the state level allow municipalities to permit adult-use cannabis businesses. Beck told the commission that the city code allows up to two cannabis businesses and that the commission’s role is advisory: the planning commission’s recommendation will go to the city council, which has the final decision.

Beck said staff applied the same review framework used for conditional-use permits and found both proposals met the required findings, including that the uses would not “be detrimental or endanger the public…