Carver County approves interim use permit for Laketown Farms cannabis microbusiness

The Carver County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt findings of fact and issue Order PZ20250027, approving an interim use permit for Laketown Farms LLC to operate a cannabis microbusiness that will include outdoor cultivation and on-site processing.

Jason Malky, land management department manager for Carver County, told the board the application is for a cannabis microbusiness limited to cultivation and processing; it does not include retail at the Laketown Township property. The parcel is a 178-acre farm with an existing 1,600-square-foot building proposed for processing and an approximately 1-acre outdoor cultivation area enclosed with commercial-grade fencing at least 6 feet tall, Malky said. He said the applicant has state preapproval from the Office of Cannabis Management and that local approval is required before the state issues a final license.

The county’s zoning code update in 2024 established local cannabis standards, Malky said, and the property required a variance to be in the shoreland overlay and is enrolled in the Agricultural Preserve program. The Board of Adjustment granted the shoreland variance in May with a condition that the parcel cannot re-enroll in the Ag Preserve after the current eight-year commitment expires. Malky said the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on June 17, and the Laketown Township board also supported the request.

Malky said the proposed operation would employ two to eight seasonal workers, have infrequent deliveries and be employee-only with security measures, surveillance, and inventory controls that extend to the fenced outdoor cultivation area. He told the board the applicant is not proposing signage and that the site is secluded with no neighbor within a quarter-mile; the county’s standard buffer is 500 feet from an adjacent home. The interim use permit was described as nontransferable; Malky said any future change of ownership would require a new interim use permit at the county level and a new state application.

Applicant Charles Levine attended the meeting and confirmed the permit could be transferred only if the buyer completed the required licensing and local approvals. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about transferability and noted that the county process allows greater local control by using an interim use permit instead of a conditional use permit.

The board approved the motion to adopt the findings of fact and issue Order PZ20250027. The motion was made by Commissioner Lynch and seconded by Commissioner Anderson. Chair Workman called for the ayes and the motion passed.

The county packet included a 126-page state pre-application submitted to the Office of Cannabis Management and aerial maps of the property. Malky said the state’s review is more restrictive than the county’s and that the state will perform inspections once it issues a license. Public comment at the Board of Adjustment included three attendees: two supported the request and one opposed recreational cannabis generally and raised concerns about trespassing. Two attendees were present at the Planning Commission meeting but did not speak during public comment.