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Council denies fee‑waiver and payment‑plan request for proposed Smoky Oaks cannabis business
Summary
Scott Hansen’s Smoky Oaks retail cannabis application exceeded escrow by $747; staff recommended denial of a fee waiver and offered a six‑month payment plan option, but council members said approving a plan would set an undesirable precedent and voted to deny the request (one abstention).
The City Council denied a request to waive excess application fees for Smoky Oaks, a proposed retail cannabis business, after staff said the application processing costs exceeded the escrow provided.
"The outstanding balance is $747," planning staff member Abby told the council, explaining that the city’s practice is to invoice applicants for costs beyond escrow and that the submitted application included a bill‑back acknowledgement. Staff said a six‑month payment plan was possible and could lead to an assessment to property taxes if payments were not made; the landowner had acknowledged responsibility if the applicant did not pay.
Several council members opposed creating a regular payment‑plan practice. One said, "If a business that wants to come and open up and operate in Forest Lake can't afford $747, I don't think we should give them the option to make payments." Another council member said approving a payment plan could create a precedent for future applicants.
A motion to deny both the fee waiver and the payment‑plan request passed; the transcript records the vote as 'Aye' with one abstention.
