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Meeker County board approves broad zoning ordinance updates, including new language for data centers and cannabis permits
Summary
The board approved recommended edits to Meeker County’s zoning ordinance: revised permit timelines, expanded permitted uses, new definitions for data centers and cannabis cultivators, updated shoreland guest‑cottage minimums, and changes allowing interim‑use permits on some cannabis operations.
Greg Schultz, Land Use Records Director, presented a package of recommended updates to the county's zoning ordinance and explained the intent of each change. The board discussed the edits and then voted to approve the recommended changes.
Schultz said the changes adjust permit timeline language (extending certain permit timelines), clarify permitted uses in the A‑1 agricultural district (adding limited contractor work, garden supply sales and light manufacturing with conditional permits), and add language on data centers and wind energy facilities to ensure county review of infrastructure impacts. He said the A‑1 district will not be a default location for data centers; such projects would be pushed to industrial or commercial districts if proposed.
The proposed edits also revise the shoreland district definition for guest cottages, raising the minimum from 700 to 800 square feet to align with building code standards. In commercial and industrial districts, Schultz said the county will require applicants for data centers to provide impact information addressing local infrastructure and relevant state and federal rules.
Schultz described changes to cannabis permitting: several uses that previously required conditional‑use permits (CUPs) will move to interim‑use permits (IUPs), giving the county greater control over time limits and ownership changes. The edits also expressly allow on‑site packaging, labeling and warehousing of cannabis products grown on the premises but restrict processing of outside products unless specifically authorized.
After the presentation a commissioner moved to approve the recommended zoning changes and a second was heard. The board cast a voice vote and the motion carried. Chair thanked Schultz for the work and asked staff to continue coordination with the planning commission and city partners where necessary.
The ordinance changes were adopted by motion; further procedural steps with the planning commission were described as next steps for rezoning items removed for later planning‑commission consideration.
