for the Constitution of the United States of America. >> The Constitution of the State of Minnesota. >> Constitution of the State of Minnesota >> and the charter and ordinances of the state of Hastings. >> Ordinances of the city of Hastings. >> And then I will faithfully discharge the duties of planning commissioner for the city of Hastings. >> And that will faithfully discharge the duties of planning commissioner for the city of Hastings. >> Counties of Dakota and Washington, state of Minnesota. of Dakota and Washington and the state of Minnesota >> according to the best of my ability and understanding. >> According to the best of my ability and understanding and now we'll elect a chair and a vice chair for 2026. All commissioners that have served at least one year on the commission are eligible to serve. Um that would be Commissioner Peters McGrath Sweden and are eligible. Um nominations and seconds may be made by any commissioner. Um they can be made uh as a single motion together or as two separate uh motions. >> We have a little discussion. >> Yeah. Uh we should be able to have do that. because >> I'm I'm not eligible, but um would one of you three per uh want to be the chair instead of um or vice chair? Is there anybody that's opposed to not have to having one of those positions? >> So, I feel like my schedule is the least reliable. So, I would serve I'd be happy to serve as a vice chair or not at all. Um um but I I don't think I'm best positioned this year. We just have a lot of transitions. So, as chair, but I I will support >> any nomination made. >> I'm happy to do one of the positions. I don't really have a strong preference either way. I'm I'm I I printed notes for anybody who needs them for running a meeting because last time we needed them and that's what I've got. [laughter] >> I'm I feel the same way. So, I don't think it I think however >> it really matters. Would Commissioner Peterson since you're the one that has the most seniority, would you like to share do chair and then >> Sadine could do vice chair? >> Let's do it. >> Yeah, >> you guys. Okay. >> Okay. I'd like to make a motion to have uh uh Commissioner Peters be the chair and Sweden be the vice chair. >> Second. >> All in favor? Hi. >> I >> I >> I notes. >> Thank you for the notes. >> It's really hard to remember what to say. >> All right. Well, the um well, first of all, congratulations and welcome to our newest um planning commission members. Um the next item on the agenda is the minutes. Um but the minutes, the November 24th minutes were not the ones in the packet. So we'll um just table that until next time. Um and then we have the up the agenda. All right. The public hearing for the Spiral Foods Co-op. >> Thank you very much. Um, the planning commission has asked to review this request uh for Spiral Foods Co-op to have retail sales of lower potency hemp edible products at 1250 South Frontage Road. This is an allowable use in the C4 zoning district by special use permit, which requires a public hearing tonight. Notification of the public hearing was posted and mailed to all property owners within 350 ft of the address. Staff has not received any comments yet. In addition to holding the public hearing, the planning commission will review the request and make a recommendation to the city council. A specially used permit is one that is not likely appropriate in a district without restrictions as to the number, area, location, andor without individual review for conditions that assure compatibility with the area. This is a picture of the um location. The lower potency retail uses must be 500 feet from other of the same uses and 500 feet from full strength cannabis uses. General retail sales are allowed at this location by the zoning ordinance and it's in line with the comprehensive plan. The site is surrounded by other commercial uses. The sub subject location is an existing business in a strip center with two other tenants. The applicant has stated that they have acquired a lower potency hemp edibles uh retail license from the state of Minnesota um office of cannabis management. Prior to approval of a special use permit, the board must make findings that uh certify compliance with uh the rules applicable to that request. The current request requires that the site meets the 500 ft minimum distance requirement between retail uses. Lower potency hemp edible products are permitted for sale between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. 7 days a week. The store is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Adequate parking u which was confirmed during a recent building remodeling project and this request does not change the requirements. The security plan that was submitted was approved by the Hastings um police department which um outlines their improvements and procedures that safeguard the use from becoming a hazard. Uh there's certain sign restrictions for these types of businesses, including two or fewer signs. Uh no blinking or flashing signs and interior signs may not be visible from the exterior of the building. The proposal appears generally compatible with the adjacent properties and other properties in the district and there's no anticipated changes that would likely affect the pedestrian safety, convenient traffic flow and control or access uh for fire or catastrophe. Staff recommends approval of the special use permit based on the findings and the conditions that are included in the staff report. Um, at this time the commission can open up the public hearing for comment or they can I can stand for also any questions. >> Can I ask questions first? >> Is that okay? >> Yep. So, um, Commissioner Silver question. Um, I'm just wondering if they open at 9:00 and you can't sell till 10:00, it will there will it just stay locked or >> Yeah, they they wouldn't be able to sell it until until those times. >> Till then, it'll just stay locked up. Okay, that was my only question. >> Any other questions? We'll come back and we can talk about it amongst ourselves, too. Um, but are we ready to open the public hearing? Okay. Then the next item is a public hearing for the special use permit for low potency hemp edible retailer at Spiral Foods Co-op at 1250 South Frontage Road. So open the public hearing. Is there anyone um who'd like to come up and speak on the issue? >> Sure. So, please come on up to the microphone and then introduce yourself and um give us your first and last name and your address. >> Sure. Uh my name is Matt Mollik. I'm the general manager of Spiral Food Co-op in Hastings. Uh I've been there for the past 10 years. I currently reside at 824 Fremont Street East in Northfield, Minnesota. Um, so Spiral Food Co-op has been around for we're coming up on 47 years in the community. Currently, we sell a lot of uh wellness supplements and whatnot. We have actually sold uh hemp low potency products here for a couple years now. Now before the law changed in 2022, we were very restricted and then we changed any any of the products that we carried when the law changed in 2022. We got the original conditional then uh we were inspected by the department of cannabis before any of the actual laws took place. We were found to be in accordance what was there. So I feel like at this point we've been pretty reliable. We've only worked with uh reps and with uh brands that have actually been forthcoming in ingredients and uh really we're not really looking for anything other than the items that we had been selling were uh less than point uh 03% but the way the law is written I still have to go ahead and submit that regardless. And then if we do want to choose to offer something like a 5 mgram or something like that in a beverage or whatnot, then we would change in accordance. And to your question uh about uh the uh we open at 9 and selling at 10, we can actually lock that down within our point of sale system so that no transactions could happen until such a time. Do you have any questions for me? Um, we'll get to that in just we'll we'll get to that in just a moment. We have to close the public hearing first unless is there anyone online for the public hearing. >> Okay. >> Um, then we'll close the public hearing and then commissioners will open up for discussion. And if you wouldn't mind staying there just in case we have questions for you. >> Certainly. >> Commissioner Grat, >> um, I don't have a question, but I just want to thank you for the information that you offered. I found that very helpful and um, was good clarity. Thank you. Anyone else? >> I did have one question. I noticed that um that the the currently you will not have beverages >> correct >> for sale. Um but I did notice that the gummies will be locked in behind the register. If you do bring beverages in, what's the plan for having those the access to the beverages? >> It's a good question. um when I had uh when we've spoken with others and of course there's a couple co-ops in the Twin Cities and so a number of them do carry these uh same uh items and depending on the local ordinances the results can be different but we do have the ability if we're looking at a refrigerated solution first of all those beverages would not be in with the rest of our regular beverage set so that somebody couldn't accidentally make a choice that wouldn't be appropriate for what they're looking for. Uh we do have the opportunity to purchase cases that are lockable that are refrigeratable and that's what we'd be looking at in those circumstances. We'd want to make sure that that would be next to our cash registers as close as they can be because it would require a c it would require a cashier to confirm the actual age of the person first of all and then to just like with the other items be able to unlock and get those items out for that individual. So that's how we proceed moving forward. >> Thank you. Mhm. >> Any other questions or discussion? Then I can entertain a motion. >> How long have you been selling the cannabis products prior or >> Well, because there was no straight ahead law before anything. Uh we actually started selling them about 8 years ago. Okay. >> But only items that were less than .003. uh the state was really unclear as to how they interpreted it up that up to that point. At that point uh after we got into uh 2022, we actually had to withdraw probably about 30% of the products that we carried. Not because the dosage was high, it was because the CA container total was different and and that was the challenge with the law at the time. So, we've actually had to really modify what we carry. It's a very slim down set. For the most part, the biggest things that we sell are topicals to uh folks with arthritis. So, >> and then do you do you for ID do you do you ID every individual or what's is there a policy for that? >> We do have a policy of identifying it. First of all, it'll be a prompt within our point of sale system. We've already tested this and it was in our prior point of sales system. We just did that conversion last week and uh we are still fixing things today. However, that being said, that is one thing that works. So, what is required is that they actually have to view aid. Now, there are some fast and loose out there. Well, if they look like they're over 40, and I don't really buy into any of that, honestly. Yes, I'm gonna make grandma bring out her ID and my cashiers are held to that same standard. >> Any other questions? Commissioner Dalma. >> Yeah. >> Hi, Matt. >> Hi. >> Um, forgive me if this seems like a silly question, but I honestly don't know. Um, you all have a wonderful deli within your store. And when it comes to consuming say a beverage, um, does that have to be taken off the premises or how does that work to consume these items? >> That's a great question and honestly I hadn't hadn't much thought about it to be frank. Um, so let me just ask to to clarify what you're asking is could I grab lunch and could I then go ahead and take that product and consume there? Um, personally I would say if we're talking about beverages that since we haven't approached it, it's a great question. Uh, I think that it's fair to say that if it is of a dosage that would be considered an intoxicant, then I would say no. Um, and in fact, otherwise we get into a grayer area. So, I think I would just firmly ask that people just not drink those beverages in our counter or lunch area because we're not a bar and we're not looking to get to be one. >> All right. Any other questions? All right. Then I'll entertain a motion. >> Motion. >> Motion to approve special use permit for Spiral Foods Co-op 20262. Second. So, we have a motion by Commissioner Sudine and a second by Commissioner Silbert. Um, all in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> opposed. All right, we'll consider that passed and that will go to the city council. >> Yep. The city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20th because of Martin Luther King Day. Thank you all. >> Yeah, thank you so much for coming in. >> All right. Um, [clears throat] next item. New new business or other business. Um well, the city council um had passed amendment to lower potency hemp edible ordinance and a special use permit for the spiral brewery for manufacturing and a home occupation permit for taxiderermy for 714 uh 13th Street. Um the planning commission will likely be holding a public hearing for another special use permit um at our next meeting. I think it's on the 26th. 20. Yep. >> Yep. Um for uh seven or 275 33rd Street West for climate controlled storage. And that's all I have. >> And then there was also an email that we received about a training on February 3rd, I think. Did everyone receive that? >> Fourth. Check your email. >> But okay. >> All right. Um, if there's no other business, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Can can I ask one thing? >> As long as we got so many new members and we've got a little time, can we just have everyone introduce themselves quickly? >> Sure. >> Would that would that be okay? >> Um, I guess I can start. I'm Melanie Peters and I've been um part of the planning commission since I think January of 2021 and live in live in Hastings um kind of out by Canon Park. >> I'm Melissa McGrath and I have been a part of the planning commission. I'm I was hoping you would reference back to when you started. [laughter] I have to uh I think it was 2023. Yeah, 2023. and um part of the Hastings community and I'm up in the Windham Hills area. >> Uh John Mo and I've been on the planning commission uh just since uh March of this year. I live Windham Hills area. I've been was born in Hastings and moved away for a few years and back and I'm glad to be part of this committee. So, thank you all. >> Um I'm Jennifer Silver. I'm new to the planning commission. I run the bar draft house and green to go dispensary in on Vermillion Street and I live in the middle of town near Walgreens. I'm Angela Montgomery. I've been a Hastings resident for about 20 years now. Um I have 17-year-old twin girls at the high school. Um they are juniors. Um uh my husband and I built a house down in Cow Town in 2019 in the East Enders development and um excited new to the planning commission and just to join all of you. >> Hi everybody. I'm Nicole Palma. Um I'm new to our commission. Um started in August. I was lucky enough to serve three full terms with the park and recck commission and that was a ball. I enjoyed every minute of it. I have a business here in town and my better half and I live here in Hastings on the corner of 17th and Maple Street. Hi, I'm Rachel Swedine. Um, this is my I I started in January of 2024 on the commission. Um, I've only been a haste residence for about three and a half years. Um, and yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I I like it a lot here, though. when I live in the downtownish area around here. >> Thanks everyone. That was a great suggestion. Thank you for doing that. Um, all right. Well, then if there's no other business, is there a motion to adjurnn or who would like to make a motion to adjurnn? >> I will make a motion to adjurnn. >> Is there a second? >> I will second. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner McGrath, second by Commissioner Dalma. All in favor? >> I no. >> Great work.