Little Falls adopts cannabis zoning, limits retail to initial five sites

The Little Falls City Council voted to adopt zoning and registration ordinances that set where cannabis businesses may operate within city limits and to authorize summary publication of those rules.

Council adopted Ordinance No. 51 to place retail cannabis uses in the B-1 and B-2 commercial zones and to permit cultivation and processing in the industrial district. The ordinance establishes a 1,000-foot buffer from schools and a 500-foot buffer from day-care facilities. Greg (city staff) told the council the zoning is required before the end of the year to preserve local control; otherwise the county could assume regulatory responsibility.

At the same meeting the council adopted Ordinance No. 52, which establishes registration and regulatory requirements for retail cannabis businesses. The ordinance as adopted initially limits retail registrations to five establishments; council members debated reducing that to three but ultimately approved the five-license cap with the possibility of amending it later. Staff and the city attorney clarified that retail registration by the city is separate from the state license required to operate.

Council also approved Ordinance 51A and 52A, condensed summary publications required for legal notice and implementation of the regulations. Those summaries will be used for publication consistent with statutory notice requirements.

Ray Durden, a local business owner, asked whether a dispensary must be freestanding; staff replied a separate entrance is sufficient. Staff also confirmed the distance buffers and said the city will continue to work through registration procedures once state licensing is in place. The council closed the public hearing, took a roll call vote and enacted the ordinances.