Lake Elmo adopts zoning changes and approves CUP expansion for NYP Landscape Supply at 9591 60th Street

City planning staff presented a zoning text amendment to add "landscape supply" and associated performance standards to the agricultural zoning code and a conditional use permit (CUP) amendment for NYP Landscape Supply at 9591 60th Street (about 24 acres). Staff said the existing CUP footprint was roughly 2.95 acres and the proposed CUP footprint would be about 6.21 acres; staff recommended findings of consistency with the 2040 comprehensive plan and 12 conditions intended to protect public health, safety and neighborhood character, including hours of operation (8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday), a 30-car on-site parking limit (not counting heavy equipment), screening and setbacks, stormwater and watershed permitting, and a condition that prior CUPs would be null if the new CUP is approved.

Neighbors and nearby residents raised objections during the public hearing, questioning the proposed definition (whether retail goods must be grown on the farm), the possibility of distributing purchased inventory, storage of pesticides and fertilizers, and traffic safety on Highway 36. John Bourbon and Len Duran urged tighter limits on expansion and on-site storage of potentially hazardous materials; planning staff said pesticides/storage would be regulated at state and federal levels and that the applicant indicated they do not plan to keep pesticides on-site. Planning commission recommended approval 7-0. The council moved, seconded and adopted the ordinance and then adopted the resolution approving the CUP subject to the staff conditions; a subsequent related resolution for publication was tabled for the next meeting.