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Blaine council adopts tree-abatement ordinance, advances cannabis zoning and approves 28-foot light permit
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Blaine City Council adopted an ordinance to speed tree abatement, approved a conditional-use permit for three 28-foot pole lights in Lexington Preserve Business Park 5, and gave first readings to several code amendments including cannabis zoning and a stormwater code change.
The Blaine City Council adopted an amendment to the city code governing nuisance-tree abatement, waived the first reading and approved the ordinance at the June 16 meeting. The council also approved a conditional-use permit allowing up to 28-foot-tall pole-mounted lighting at Lexington Preserve Business Park 5, and took first readings on multiple ordinance amendments including changes to cannabis zoning and a technical stormwater code revision.
Public Works Director Nick said the tree-abatement ordinance change “will speed up the abatement process and bring this ordinance into alignment with our other abatement procedures.” Council waived the first reading and adopted the ordinance; the motion to adopt was moved by Council Member Newland and seconded by Council Member Fleming and carried by voice vote.
The council opened and closed a public hearing on a conditional-use permit request for Lexington Preserve Business Park 5 and then approved the permit. The assistant community development director described the request: the applicant seeks a permit “to allow lighting up to 28 feet tall in Lexington Preserve Business Park 5” and proposed three lights on the east side of the property that would exceed the city’s existing 20-foot limit. Staff noted the lights will be down-lit and shielded to meet code requirements; staff recommended approval with the condition that the applicant obtain appropriate permits. Council Member Robertson moved the motion to approve the permit; Council Member Newland seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.
On zoning and regulatory changes, the council heard first readings of several ordinances. The assistant community development director said the city previously adopted zoning that prohibited cannabis manufacturing and cultivation but “rules have changed and we do need to allow those.” The council advanced an ordinance (25-25-78) to amend the zoning code to allow cannabis and hemp manufacturing as conditional uses in I-2 and I-2A districts and add cannabis and hemp cultivation to I-2A as a conditional use; the planning commission recommended approval. The clerk gave the ordinance its first reading; the second reading was scheduled for July 7.
The council also heard a first reading of an amendment (ordinance 25-25-73) clarifying the definition of daycare in the adult-use cannabis chapter so that the 500-foot buffer requirement applies to daycare at residences and daycare facilities. Director of Engineering Schlunder presented a separate first-reading ordinance (25-25-80) to amend section 34-485 on volume control and pollutant management to address an MPCA audit finding; he described the change as combining two bullet points so the code matches state and watershed district expectations.
No members of the public spoke at the cannabis zoning or lighting items; staff said there were no public comments on the cannabis amendments. The record shows the planning commission recommended approval of the cannabis zoning changes and staff recommended approval of the 28-foot lighting permit with a permit condition. The council took voice votes for the actions recorded; no roll-call tallies were provided in the meeting record.
Items enacted and advanced at the meeting include the tree-abatement ordinance adoption, approval of the Lexington Preserve Business Park 5 conditional-use permit (with permit requirement), and first readings of ordinances 25-25-78, 25-25-80 and 25-25-73.
Votes at a glance - Conditional-use permit (Lexington Preserve Business Park 5): approved; motion moved by Council Member Robertson; seconded by Council Member Newland; staff condition: obtain appropriate permits. - Ordinance 25-25-78 (zoning amendments for cannabis manufacturing/cultivation): first reading advanced; second reading set for July 7, 2025. - Ordinance 25-25-73 (amend adult-use cannabis chapter to clarify daycare definition / 500-foot buffer): first reading advanced. - Ordinance 25-25-80 (amend stormwater code section 34-485): first reading advanced. - Tree-abatement ordinance (ordinance number not specified in record): waived first reading and adopted; motion moved by Council Member Newland; seconded by Council Member Fleming.
