Planning Commission Meeting Date: March 20, 2025
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Title
Public Hearing for Consideration of Text Amendments Related to Cannabis in Chapter 34 - Land Development Code.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission is asked to conduct a public hearing to gather input on text amendments related to revising Chapter 34 - Land Development Code to include language related to development standards to address time, manner, and place of cannabis retail.
Summary Report:
The City of Northfield is the applicant, and the public hearing notice was published in the Northfield News on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Public hearing mailings are not sent out for text amendments. A copy of the public hearing notice is attached.
The following is the procedure of the public hearing per the City Council’s adopted Rules of Business:
Public Hearing Procedure:
A public hearing is used by the Planning Commission to solicit the public's comments on various projects or City operation procedures.
A. The Chair will open the hearing by identifying the subject.
B. Staff Presentation - staff will give a presentation on the subject.
C. Applicant's Presentation - if needed.
D. Public Input - The public will have the opportunity to speak for or against the issue. The public may ask questions, make comments, voice support, agree or disagree with the issue.
1. The Chair will recognize a speaker and comments/conversation will be between the Chair and speaker; and between the Chair and Commissioners.
2. The speaker must give their name, address, and if representing a business, must give the name of the business or corporation. If an Attorney or consultant is representing a client, the client must be identified for the record.
3. Speakers will be allowed to speak a maximum of two (2) minutes per item (not including interpreter’s time).
E. Questions or Clarifications from Planning Commission - After the public input of the public hearing is completed, the Planning Commission may request questions or clarifications prior to closing the public hearing. This section will be used when there are questions related to the topic on which the public hearing is being held. Questions should be succinct and avoid being rhetorical or leading in nature. Subsequent actions of the Planning Commission provide for opportunities for further questions or clarifications from the Planning Commission.
F. Any material to be entered into the record shall be noted. Any written communication presented to the Planning Commission during a Planning Commission meeting shall be read into the record or summarized for the record or simply delivered to the Planning Commission, as the Planning Commission may determine. They shall then be recorded in the minutes by title and filed with the minutes.
G. Motion to Close Hearing - The Chair will state if there is an extension of time for public input into the hearing. If not, the Planning Commission will make a motion, second, and vote on closing the public hearing.
Staff will give a presentation on the relevant background materials and information for this item. All attachments related to this public hearing are included in the agenda item immediately following the public hearing to consider action on the text amendments. There will not be a separate staff presentation for that agenda item and there will not be separate testimony by the public at that time.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
March 5, 2025: Public hearing notice published in the Northfield News
March 20, 2025: Public hearing, testimony and review by the Planning Commission
April 17, 2025: Recommendation made by the Planning Commission to City Council
May 6, 2025: 1st Reading at City Council
May 20, 2025: 2nd Reading at City Council and summary publication
May 28, 2025: Summary publication in the Northfield News
June 29, 2025: Ordinance takes effect