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10-15-2025 Planning Commission October 15, 2025 7:00 PM Fridley City Hall, 7071 University Avenue NE Minutes Call to Order Acting Chair Meisner called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present Pete Borman Aaron Brom Mike Heuchert Aaron Klemz Ross Meisner Paul Nealy Absent Mark Hansen Others Present Nancy Abts, Senior Planner Stacy Stromberg, Assistant Community Development and HRA Director Ryan Solberg, HRA/City Manager Office Intern Approval of Meeting Minutes 1. Approve September 17, 2025, Planning Commission Minutes Motion by Commissioner Borman to approve the minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Heuchert. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously. Public Hearing 2. Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit, CUP #25-01, by Mike Bismark and Dynamic Offensive Futbol, for Indoor Commercial Recreation for a Private Soccer Training Facility Motion by Commissioner Heuchert to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Borman. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously, and the public hearing was opened at 7:02 p.m. Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 10/15/2025 Ryan Solberg presented the request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow tenant space 7264 – 7266 within the property at 7280 Commerce Circle East to be used for an indoor commercial recreation facility for Dynamic Offensive Futbol. He provided details on the site description and history, code requirements, analysis, CUP findings for approval, related findings, and recommended stipulations. Commissioner Klemz stated that in previous cases, the Commission has been asked to repeal out- of-date Special Use Permits (SUPs) and CUPs, and asked if there is a similar recommendation in this case. Nancy Abts, Senior Planner, replied that staff is not recommending any action on the existing SUPs for the property. Acting Chair Meisner asked if an SUP applies to the entire building or just a section. Ms. Abts replied that staff believe that the SUP would apply to the entire property unless the conditions of approval state otherwise. She stated that in this new CUP, the conditions are specific about where the use will be located within the property. Commissioner Borman asked and received confirmation that the previous SUP did not stipulate a portion of the building and therefore applied to the entire property, whereas this use would be specific to the proposed space within the building. Sam Diatta, spoke in representation of the applicant, he stated that the club is looking to find a home within Fridley, and he was present to answer any questions. Commissioner Klemz asked where the current facility is located. Mr. Diatta replied that they are currently at TCO Sports Facility in Vadnais Heights, but have to relocate and were happy to find the location in Fridley. He provided additional details on the training program they run. Acting Chair Meisner asked if the training is focused on kids or adults as well. Mr. Diatta replied that the main focus is kids, but adults participate as well at times. Commissioner Borman asked how many participants are at any session. Mr. Diatta explained that it depends upon the space, but noted a recent session with 25 kids. He stated that during the summer, they held a camp with about 80 kids. He confirmed that the space is adequate for their needs. Acting Chair Meisner asked when the business would hope to be operational in the space. Mr. Diatta replied that they would anticipate being open in January. Motion by Commissioner Heuchert to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Borman. Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 10/15/2025 Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously, and the public hearing was closed at 7:19 p.m. Commissioner Borman commented that this seems to be a great use of the space, and the Commission agreed. Commissioner Nealy asked if there is a concern that this space would occupy available industrial space. Acting Chair Meisner noted that this would be a commercial use within a space that has been vacant. Motion by Commissioner Heuchert recommending approval of Conditional Use Permit, CUP #25-01, by Mike Bismark and Dynamic Offensive Futbol, for indoor commercial recreation for a private soccer training facility, subject to stipulations. Seconded by Commissioner Nealy. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously. It was noted that this item will go to the City Council for consideration at the November 10, 2025, meeting. 3. Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit, CUP #25-02, by Grown Rogue Unlimited, LLC, for th Indoor Cannabis Cultivation at 40 77 Avenue NE Motion by Commissioner Klemz to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Brom. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously, and the public hearing was opened at 7:22 p.m. Nancy Abts, Senior Planner, presented a request for a Conditional Use Permit for cannabis th cultivation within the existing building at 40 77 Avenue NE from Grown Rogue Unlimited LLC. She provided additional details about the business and its operations in three other states. She presented details of the application, site description and history, Code requirements, and staff recommendation for approval with stipulations as presented. Commissioner Brom referenced odor mitigation and asked how that would be measured/enforced. Ms. Abts provided details on how that is reviewed from the property line. She stated that if the odor is reasonably offensive at the property line, staff would ask the applicant to come into compliance. She referenced the experience of the applicant and their plan for odor mitigation. Acting Chair Meisner asked if there is an objective measure for odor. Ms. Abts replied that there is not an agreed-upon objective measure for odor. She stated that enforcement would be based upon complaints and review by City inspectors. She reviewed the steps that would be followed related to enforcement. Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 10/15/2025 Acting Chair Meisner asked if this type of business would place a higher burden on public safety. Ms. Abts replied that public safety did not have any concerns with this proposal. She stated that the business’ security measures would prevent anyone from wandering in. Mark Doherty, representing the applicant, stated that they are excited to bring the business to Fridley, and he was present to answer any questions. He confirmed that they do plan to purchase the building, and while taking a conservative approach initially, they would eventually plan to expand into the entire building. Commissioner Brom noted the 80 anticipated employees and asked if those are new jobs or jobs being transferred from other states. Mr. Doherty replied that those jobs would be net new to the community and estimated at full capacity. He provided input on odor mitigation and noted that, in his experience, if there were odor issues, it would be identified through complaints from neighbors. He provided details on the odor mitigation for the business. Commissioner Klemz asked if the business received a cannabis cultivation license from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Mr. Doherty confirmed that they have received their license notification from the OCM. Commissioner Brom asked if the law would need to change to allow the business to build out phase two. Mr. Doherty replied that the first phase would be 10,000 square feet of cannabis canopy, and their license would allow up to 30,000 square feet of cannabis canopy. Commissioner Nealy asked about other approved cannabis cultivation licensing approved in the state. Mr. Doherty replied that currently there are two approved cultivators in the state, which have been operational under medical licensing and have been approved to convert their medical sales to retail. He stated that those cultivators are feeding their own dispensaries and are not supplying other retailers. He commented that tribal lands have been cultivating to a smaller degree as well. He provided additional details on the required testing that would be completed by a third party. Commissioner Nealy asked if the facility would have security. Mr. Doherty confirmed that the facility would be heavily secured. Commissioner Klemz asked the anticipated truck traffic for the site. Mr. Doherty replied that would be minimal as delivery is typically provided through sprinter vans. He anticipated a few trucks per week. Acting Chair Meisner asked for more details on the odor mitigation and waste material. Mr. Doherty provided additional details on the odor mitigation process the company uses. He stated that the OCM has regulations to be followed for waste management of plant material. Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 10/15/2025 Acting Chair Meisner asked if there would be an extra burden on fire safety and/or public safety. Mr. Doherty provided additional details on the fire safety of the building, which is already sprinkled. He stated that it is a highly secured facility, monitored 24/7, and in his experience, there has been no additional burden on public safety. He noted that the business would not even have a monument sign. He stated that their products would be wholesaled to Minnesota dispensaries. Acting Chair Meisner asked if staff has explored whether this type of business would be a target in terms of security threats. Ms. Abts recognized that this is a new activity, but none of the medical cultivators or dispensaries have reported any issues. She noted that the OCM has also been proactive in how they have set up security requirements. Acting Chair Meisner asked about employee health and safety. Mr. Doherty replied that they take employee health and safety seriously and provided information on the working conditions. Motion by Commissioner Borman to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Heuchert. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously, and the public hearing was closed at 8:00 p.m. Commissioner Heuchert stated that the applicant addressed any concerns expressed. Commissioner Borman recognized that odor is subjective and provided examples of odor from General Mills at times. He noted that the applicant seems to have a robust plan for odor mitigation. Motion by Commissioner Klemz recommending approval of Conditional Use Permit, CUP #25-02, by th Grown Rogue Unlimited, LLC for indoor cannabis cultivation at 40 77 Avenue NE, subject to stipulations. Seconded by Commissioner Borman. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously. It was noted that this item will move forward to the City Council for consideration at the November 10, 2025, meeting. Other Business Ms. Abts stated that the City is currently initiating a youth commissioner program, noting that applications are being accepted through October 24, 2025. It was confirmed that the youth members would be nonvoting members. Adjournment Planning Commission Minutes Page 6 10/15/2025 Motion by Commissioner Borman to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Heuchert. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Acting Chair Meisner declared the motion carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Abts, Staff Liaison