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Council holds public hearing on proposed cannabis zoning; staff backs time-limited interim use permits
Summary
The Stewartville City Council opened a public hearing and held a first reading on amendments to Chapter 13 to add cannabis uses to the zoning code. Staff and the planning commission recommended using interim use permits to allow time-limited oversight of cultivation, manufacturing and retail locations.
The Stewartville City Council opened a public hearing and conducted a first reading on an amendment to Zoning Ordinance Chapter 13 to add cannabis-related uses and permitting rules. Staff and the planning and zoning commission recommended the city use an interim use permit (IUP) process rather than standard conditional use permits.
The planning commission attached proposed language to Chapter 13 and staff explained that an IUP requires a defined termination point and does not automatically run with the land; it must be reauthorized if an owner sells the property. According to staff, using an IUP gives the city and planning commission the ability to impose conditions similar to a CUP while retaining a formal review and termination mechanic.
Marin Schroeder, who identified herself as a cannabis policy professional and said she worked with city staff on the ordinance, described the draft as a risk- and safety-focused approach after months of discussions. "For those that do not know me, my name is Marin Schroeder. I work in cannabis policy. I've been in that space for about 10 years," she told the council and offered to answer questions.
Councilors and Schroeder discussed which activities would require IUPs (staff cited cultivation and manufacturing) and whether retail allocations would be handled through a county registration/draw process. Schroeder and staff explained that the county is handling retail registration and drawing for storefront licenses while the state licenses cultivators and manufacturers; the city would rely on county registration for retail activity in Stewartville. Staff also said the IUP duration could be set case-by-case — examples discussed in the hearing ranged from a time-limited term to reauthorization tied to sale of the property.
The hearing closed after public questions. Council treated the ordinance as a first reading; staff said the item will return at a subsequent meeting for potential adoption and further council action.
