Lakeville City Council — Transcript
Thursday, May 8, 2025
16th Annual Community Bike Ride
Lakeville Olympians Proclamation
Manufacturing Month Proclamation
Cannabis Business Ordinance Amendment
Term Limits for City Boards and Commissions
Lord of Life Lutheran Church Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezoning
Votes (3)
Ordinance Amending Title 3 Chapter 24 and Title 11 - Cannabis Business Regulations
Dissent: Michelle Vul voted against the ordinance solely due to the six-retail-registration cap, stating she does not believe in limiting the number of businesses and prefers market forces determine viability.
Moved by Joshua Lee [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]
Community Development Director Tina Goodroad presented comprehensive amendments establishing cannabis business framework. Key provisions include: six retail registration limit on first-come, first-served basis; zoning alignment placing cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and wholesale in industrial districts and retail in retail districts; creation of Chapter 38 with minimal performance standards; references to OCM rules rather than direct adoption to avoid frequent amendments; anticipated retail operations beginning summer 2025. Council discussed the retail cap limitation, with one member expressing concern about discouraging potential businesses, while staff noted industry preference for initial caps and county-level limits (one per 125 population). Staff acknowledged this ordinance will likely require future amendments as OCM rules finalize.
Ordinance Establishing Term Limits for City Boards and Commissions
Dissent: No dissent to tabling; all council members supported deferring to work session for clarification of implementation procedures.
Moved by Luke Helier [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]
Council Member Dan Walter initiated discussion requesting further consideration of proposed term limits (two consecutive three-year terms for most boards, three for Planning Commission). Walter expressed concern that council discretion in reappointments is the appropriate term limit mechanism and noted concerns from board members. Council Member Michelle Vul stated opposition to term limits generally, arguing council responsibility for appointments should remain unfettered. Council Member Luke Helier raised clarification questions about effective date application (whether current appointees are grandfathered) and the unanimous appointment exception process, expressing concern about potential inequitable treatment of applicants at term limits. Helier moved to table for work session discussion to clarify implementation procedures while potentially preserving the policy if properly structured.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Rezoning
Dissent: No dissent; all council members voted in favor.
Moved by John Burmel [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]
Pastor Jamie Thompson provided historical context: Lord of Life purchased 15 acres in 1999 with 10 buildable acres planned for future phases; DNR protected water course designation initially limited development to 25% of acreage; DNR protection was subsequently lifted. Church partnered with developer Matt Frisbee of Frisbee Properties LLC to develop southern portion. Frisbee presented 24-unit townhome project: 20 three-bedroom and 4 two-bedroom units with two-car garages, slab-on-grade construction with accessibility features (no steps, limited thresholds, adaptable design), community pavilion with pickle ball court and gardens. Rezoning from RS3 to RST2 accommodates attached townhome configuration. Community Development Director noted Planning Commission held public hearing September 5th with neighborhood meeting prior (approximately 20 residents attended); no public comment at Planning Commission hearing; unanimous recommendation for approval. Council Member John Burmel confirmed no exceptions to normal zoning regulations required. Council Member Joshua Lee expressed appreciation for infill development addressing attainable housing needs.
Notable Quotes (11)
I had stated at a previous work session that I was not in favor of limiting the number of retail registrations... I don't believe in limiting the number of businesses I think that again it's one of those things that'll just work itself out.
I've been having a lot of conversations with my peers in a lot of communities and actually industry professionals want to see initially a cap... some communities are considering a cap they might be going a couple over you know we're six go up to eight and then some communities are dialing in even more.
I really appreciate how you reference the ocm rules versus adopting them into our ordinance because last thing we need to do is is be changing this ordinance every time those regulations change because this is we're just getting started here.
I do suspect I will be back here... things are just going to come out and as we are working through things I suspect we might find something like oh we really should tweak this to make this a little bit more clear.
I think we have the ability as the council to choose whether or not to reappoint someone and that that ultimately is to me as the term limits... after talking with a number of members of people who serve our boards and commissions I think there's some concern there as well.
I really don't believe in term limits anyway I think that things work out the way that they're supposed to... it's really up to us and future councils to make some of those tough decisions and this would lessen the hard decision.
I'm not clear on whether that means with the current appointments and the previous history or it starts today... I wouldn't want somebody to be at the end of their time limit and just not reapply because I don't want to be in a position where I'm asking somebody to please reapply but not asking somebody else who's up to not.
We made it very clear to Matt that this was an asset in the church's care and we were going to leverage it and protect it the best we could and he applauded that and said he would expect nothing less.
We feel this is a great infield site everything's been built around this area over the last oh let's say 15 plus years... this is a pocket that sits there that I think has a good buffer... it's a nice pocket with a good arrangement with a buffer around it that we feel it's a good infill.
We do a lot of projects in the senior world and then also in the enabling world... these will they can adaptable right away all the clearance is there no steps not even steps at the front door or even from the garage to it even thresholds are limited.
I appreciate this project I think it fits well in in what is an area where there has not been a lot of development because it's kind of filled up so I think it's great that you can try to fit something else in there and I think it's a product that is sorely needed when you think about what's attainable.
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
Amended ordinance establishing registration requirements, performance standards, application processes, and temporary cannabis event procedures for cannabis retail, cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and wholesale operations
Amended zoning ordinance incorporating cannabis business use classifications into appropriate zoning districts and creating new Chapter 38 with minimal performance standards
New chapter establishing minimal performance standards for cannabis operations while referencing OCM rules and state statute for detailed operational requirements
Recognition of Reagan Smith, Ian Seidenfeld, and Josh Cino for their participation and achievements in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics
Designation of October as Manufacturing Month in recognition of the manufacturing sector's contribution to Lakeville's economy (300+ businesses, 5,500+ jobs)
Extended warranty for completion of new outdoor ice sheet following issues identified in previous year
$100,000 contribution over 10 years for naming rights to outdoor pavilion
Contract for remodel of fire station number one, similar to previous remodel at station four, to accommodate full-time firefighters beginning next year
Proposed ordinance establishing two consecutive three-year terms for most boards and commissions, three consecutive terms for Planning Commission, with unanimous appointment exception; tabled for further discussion and clarification
Amendment to comprehensive land use map rezoning southern half of 16200 DOD Lane property from Public/Quasi-Public to Low and Medium Residential
Zoning map amendment rezoning 16200 DOD Lane from RS3 to RST2 to accommodate 24-unit townhome development