Planning Commission recommends approval of cannabis dispensary at Oak Park Heights shopping center

The Oak Park Heights Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional-use permit for a proposed cannabis retail dispensary in a mixed-use shopping center, forwarding the advisory decision to the City Council for final action on Jan. 13.

During a public hearing, Mr. Richards, speaking for city staff, said the application—listed in the meeting packet as at “139960th Street North”—would occupy about 1,700 square feet in a B4 (limited business) zoning district and meets the separation and buffering requirements in city code section 1413 and zoning ordinance section 401.18. "The property is designated as commercial on the proposed land use map," Richards said, and he told the panel the applicant had received preliminary license approval from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management.

Applicant representative Habib Abbis, who said he represents the applicant identified in meeting materials as both “Hyman LLC” and “Heman LLC,” told commissioners the operation would be staffed by roughly 20 employees, operate entirely indoors, and use "real-time inventory control, order mitigation, cash management, and layered security systems" to comply with regulations and protect the neighborhood. He identified the owner as Agil Almatil and said the business would make local charitable contributions and run community outreach programs.

Staff reported the site has 34 parking stalls, above the 20 spaces required for the center, and that the proposed tenant would not change the building exterior beyond signage. Richards also noted an inconsistency between the applicant's narrative and city/state rules about opening hours: "the applicant in their narrative has it said they would open at 9:00 but it's actually 10 is what's specified in our ordinance and in state statute," he said. The applicant later said they had adjusted hours in their proposal.

With no members of the public speaking against the application, a commissioner moved to approve "as recommended by the city recommendations," a motion that was seconded and approved by voice vote; the minutes record the motion as carried but do not list a roll-call tally. The chair emphasized the Planning Commission's role is advisory: "In Oak Park Heights, unlike some cities, we are only a recommending body," and said the City Council will consider the application at its Jan. 13 meeting.

Next steps: the commission's recommendation and the application materials will go to the City Council for final action on Jan. 13. The council will make the definitive determination on the conditional-use permit and licensing.