Council delays decision on cannabis retail Conditional Use Permit for 300 Belgrade Avenue

The North Mankato City Council on July 21 tabled consideration of CU-2-25, a Conditional Use Permit application from Madeline Peck to operate a cannabis retail store at 300 Belgrade Avenue. Council Member Oachs moved to table the request and Council Member Steiner seconded; the motion carried with Council Members Steiner, Oachs, Whitlock and Mayor Carlson recorded as voting aye.

Community Development Director Fischer told the council that the applicant’s proposal met local zoning and buffer requirements established by city ordinance (including distances from schools, parks, residential treatment facilities, day cares and other cannabis retail establishments) and that staff recommended conditions: state licensing and city registration, provision of complaints to the City, prohibition on on-site consumption and samples, prohibition on dispensing-machine sales, child-resistant packaging and conformity of products and signage with applicable law and city sign regulations. Council Member Whitlock questioned parking availability and expressed a belief about state license limits; Attorney Kennedy corrected Whitlock’s understanding of the state licensing framework and cautioned that “the Council must act on the Conditional Use Permit within 60 days of the applicant applying for the CUP, or the CUP is automatically granted.” That admonition was a key reason members said they preferred to table the matter to the Aug. 4 meeting to allow fuller council participation.

The minutes record that Preston Perreault, who said he is associated with the applicant, told the council Madeline Peck also owns High Tech Cloud at 507 N. Riverfront Drive in Mankato and intends to work with the Office of Cannabis Management through the process. The council did not vote to approve the CUP on July 21; the item is scheduled for the Aug. 4, 2025 meeting.