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Stearns County debate centers on 20-year term for cannabis interim-use permit; board approves planning commission recommendation
Summary
Commissioners debated whether a 20-year interim use permit for a cannabis operation is appropriate given the project's upfront costs and novelty; staff said the board would need a separate public hearing if it sought a different term. The board approved the planning commission recommendation 3–1.
Stearns County commissioners on Aug. 12 debated how long to grant an interim use permit (IUP) for a proposed cannabis operation before approving the planning commission’s recommendation.
Commissioners discussed whether a 20-year term, which the planning commission recommended, is appropriate for what they described as a new local activity. Several commissioners said they would prefer a shorter initial term to allow review as the county gains experience. “This is the first one we’re approving to my knowledge … I’d rather walk down the hill,” one commissioner said during board discussion, urging…
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