Royalton council approves conditional use permit for Happy Dog Dispensary with strict operating conditions

The Royalton City Council on Jan. 6 unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the Happy Dog Dispensary, attaching multiple operational conditions the council said are intended to limit neighborhood impacts and ensure regulatory compliance.

Tim Majaski, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, presented a set of special conditions recommended for the permit, including: security personnel on site during business hours; a prohibition on outside cannabis use on dispensary property; requirement that smoke extractors be filtered, working and used during business hours; compliance with Ordinance 60 (Cannabis Use) and Ordinance 61.1 (Cannabis Sale and Licensing); and a provision allowing police officers, health officers or other designated city employees to enter and inspect licensed premises without a warrant during business hours. The Chief of Police or a designated agent will conduct periodic checks to ensure compliance.

Council Member Lanners moved to approve the conditional use permit with the conditions as presented; Council Member Verley seconded. The motion carried with all members voting aye (Weiss-Pesta, Lanners, Verley, Cimenski); Council Member Sowada was absent. The council closed the public hearing and returned to the regular meeting at 7:33 p.m. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.

The conditions reference local cannabis ordinances and include an explicit inspection clause and operational restrictions that the council said are intended to address safety and neighborhood concerns. The permit approval allows the dispensary to proceed to licensing steps required by city ordinances and state law.