Shakopee Planning Commission Regular Meeting – August 17, 2026

The Shakopee Planning Commission met on August 17, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m., to consider proposed amendments to City Code Sections 151.002 and 151.007 K that would allow indoor cannabis cultivation up to 5,000 square feet and cannabis manufacturing in the Highway Business (B-1) zoning district. After hearing testimony from the applicants and staff, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial to the City Council.

Consent Calendar

• The Commission approved the July 9, 2026 Planning Commission meeting minutes as part of the consent agenda. Commissioner Weiler stated an abstention, though the Chair declared the motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Applicants Rory Cummings and Tom Madden, who have state pre-approval for a cannabis microbusiness license with retail endorsement, testified in support of the amendments for their leased space at 491 Marshall Road. They said they need to grow roughly 50 plants in about 1,000 square feet to supply their planned Minnetonka store because cannabis is unavailable at viable prices—about $4,000–$4,500 per pound—and their licenses expire in January 2027.
• They stated they declined the on-site consumption endorsement to control odor, planned grow-tent filtration on top of state requirements, expected no meaningful noise beyond HVAC, and would exceed OCM security requirements with 24-hour monitoring and recorded footage. They also compared the operation to breweries and distilleries allowed in commercial districts.
• The applicants acknowledged that city code would require a cannabis cultivator license for cultivation, while state law prohibits holding a cultivator license together with a microbusiness license; they said the ordinance change was needed to avoid violating state law. They also said they would convert the Shakopee location to a dispensary once prices fall.
• No other members of the public spoke.

Discussion Items

• Staff member Mr. Kersky presented the ordinance amendment, explaining that the current code permits cannabis retail and microbusiness uses in B-1, while cultivation and manufacturing are allowed only in I-1 and I-2 districts. Staff recommended denial, finding that cultivation and manufacturing are not consistent with the B-1 district’s retail purpose, that B-1 includes residences and abuts residential areas, that the 2040 Comprehensive Plan designates B-1 as mixed-use commercial rather than industrial, that the proposed cultivator definition would depart from state language and other city cannabis definitions, and that removing endorsement restrictions could allow industrial uses wherever a license type is permitted.
• Commissioners expressed concerns that approving the request would change the character of B-1, create a precedent or “Pandora’s box” for non-retail and industrial uses, conflict with the Comprehensive Plan, and place cannabis cultivation close to apartments, homes, and a hotel at the proposed site.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission opened and closed the public hearing by unanimous voice vote.
• Commissioner Robbins moved to recommend denial of the proposed ordinance amendments; Commissioner Weiler seconded.
• The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote: Commissioners Forsyth, Weiler, Cheras, Vanderveen, and Robbins voted “Aye.” The denial recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. until the September meeting.