Council approves Mango Cannabis exterior design with conditions

The Oak Park Heights City Council voted to approve design-review changes for Mango Cannabis at 14608 60th Street North, the former Joseph’s restaurant building, after planning staff summarized the planning commission’s recommendation.

Staff said the proposal removes a tower element on the building and alters exterior colors; the commission raised concerns about departures from the city’s design guideline preference for warm, muted tones and asked council to consider potential reflectance from more vivid 3D elements. Staff and council reviewed examples from other communities and determined the proposed design, mitigated by a gray base and limited reflectance, was acceptable under the conditions recommended by the planning commission.

Council moved and seconded approval; a roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Luz Grein, Councilmember Ronk, Councilmember Swenson and the Mayor. The motion carried.

Staff and applicants discussed timing for permits and construction; planners said final sign illumination and the same LED-strip-lighting language used in other items would be applied as appropriate during permit review.

Next steps: applicants must complete sign-permit and building-permit requirements and comply with any planning-commission conditions noted in the approved resolution.