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Commission approves cannabis microbusiness CUP for Northern Growers near Moorhead
Summary
Clay County approved a conditional-use permit for Northern Growers LLC to operate a cannabis microbusiness — indoor cultivation and retail — in a highway-commercial location east of Moorhead, subject to eight conditions including security, waste management and local retail registration.
Clay County planning commissioners granted a conditional-use permit to Northern Growers LLC (doing business as Minnesota Cannabis Company) to operate a cannabis microbusiness that would include indoor cultivation and on-site retail at a property east of U.S. Highway 75, near Moorhead.
Planning staff said the applicant holds preliminary approval from the State Office of Cannabis Management and must secure local registration before retail sales; Moorhead Township delegated retail registration to the county this year, and local registration will be processed by the county public-health division. Staff recommended conditions addressing odor control, security, a parking plan, a wastewater/waste management plan for cultivation, an integrated pest-management plan, and compliance with state licensing requirements. Staff noted the facility is on private well and septic and recommended the applicant provide water-capacity testing and documentation.
Applicant representative Mark Hedlund told commissioners the business would use sealed indoor grow rooms, advanced HVAC and odor-control systems, and 24/7 video surveillance. He said the operation plans to reclaim and reuse as much water as possible in a closed or semi-closed loop, will follow state rules for disposal of unsalable plant material, and intends to test the well next week to confirm capacity. Hedlund said the retail area will be controlled access and age-verified and that the company plans to operate with typical retail hours aligned with local standards.
Staff reported no public comments at the hearing and said the City of Moorhead raised no objections. The commission noted a daycare facility within about 500 feet of the site; under county rules retail cannabis uses must be at least 500 feet from certain sensitive uses. Staff measured corner-to-corner distances and said the primary day-care activities occur farther than the nearest corner-to-corner measurement; the commission concluded the application met the county’s 500-foot requirement. The motion to approve the CUP with eight conditions was made by Kurt Stubstead, seconded by Jenny, and carried by voice vote.
