City Council Meeting Date: May 6, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Title
Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit for Loon Liquors, LLC to Operate a Microdistillery at 115 5th Street West.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the conditional use permit (CUP) for Loon Liquors, LLC to operate a microdistillery at 115 5th Street West.
Summary Report:
The applicant, Loon Liquors, LLC (Loon) has applied for a CUP to operate a microdistillery at 115 5th Street West. The craft distillery has been in operation for over 10 years and is owned and operated by its co-founders Simeon Rossi and Mark Schiller. Loon currently operates in the Northfield industrial park off Armstong Road. The city has worked with Loon for several years to relocate their business to downtown Northfield. The business will include a distillery, cocktail room, and pizza kitchen.
The site development standards for the C1-B: Downtown zoning district denotes the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) give feedback on projects adjacent to the Historic district. The HPC gave input at their April meeting. The HPC was broadly supportive of the project, and the discussion mostly involved clarifying questions about the future use of the building. Suggestions included the use of softer or more neutral paint tones to be more consistent with the natural brick colors of the historic district and making greater use of the adjacent alley or providing other outdoor dining.
A CUP follows a Type 4 Review Procedure found in Section 8.4.7 of the land development code (LDC). Type 4 Review Procedures requires the Planning Commission (PC) to hold a public hearing and makes a recommendation to City Council. The City Council makes the final decision on the CUP. The PC approved a resolution recommending approval of the CUP to City Council without any additional conditions and unanimously. The attached PC Resolution is still awaiting signature from the PC Chair, but it has been approved.
In the approval of a CUP, the PC or the City Council may impose conditions as necessary to make the use compatible with other uses allowed in the same district zone or vicinity. Criterion (a) must be met and criteria (b) through (n) shall be considered in the review of conditional use permit applications. The analysis of the criteria is provided in the resolution.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the CUP to operate a microdistillery at 115 5th St. W.
Alternative Options:
If the proposed conditional use satisfies both the general and specific standards set forth in the zoning ordinance, the applicant is entitled to the conditional use permit. Importantly, if the applicant meets the general and specific ordinance standards, the city usually has no legal basis for denying the CUP.
Financial Impacts:
The relocation and expansion of Loon and renovation of 115 5th St. W. will support local construction jobs/businesses, create new jobs, support the downtown economy and vibrancy, increase the tax base and keep a local business local while expanding their reach regionally and possibly internationally.
Timeline:
April 2, 2025: Public hearing notice in Northfield News
April 3, 2025: Public hearing notice mailed to properties within 350 ft.
April 17, 2025: Public hearing and PC recommendation to City Council
May 6, 2025: City Council reviews and makes final decision on CUP