City Council Meeting Date: May 5, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
City Administrator
From: Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Title
Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit for Black Bear Wellness MN to Operate a Cannabis Retail Establishment at 680 Professional Dr.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to approve the conditional use permit (CUP) for Black Bear Wellness MN to operate a cannabis retail establishment at 680 Professional Dr.
Summary Report:
The Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the CUP at their April 16, 2026, meeting. That resolution is attached.
Background
The applicant, Black Bear Wellness MN (the applicant) has applied for a CUP to operate a cannabis retail establishment at 680 Professional Dr. The applicant has received Preliminary License Approval from the State of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management to operate a cannabis business and has applied for a Retail Registration from the City Clerk. For the Retail Registration to be approved, the applicant must first receive a conditional use permit.
State law requires that the City of Northfield issue a minimum of two (2) cannabis retail licenses, based on the population of the city. These licenses are to be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, according to City Code. This applicant is the second to apply, and the first received a CUP in 2025. City code limits cannabis retail licenses to a maximum of two licenses.
The business will be a retail-only establishment with no on-site production or consumption.
Table 2.7-1: Permitted Principal Uses allows Cannabis Retail as a conditional use in the C2-B: Highway Commercial District. The use-specific standards for Cannabis Retail the C2-B: Highway Commercial zoning district, include the following regulations:
- A cannabis business with a retail license or a cannabis retail endorsement is pro...
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