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Nowthen Planning & Zoning meeting, August 26, 2025

Planning & Zoning

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 · 7:00 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

Open PDF ↗

What was on the agenda.

Packet

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The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

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The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended changes for cannabis cultivation in RRA zoning and approved a planning-and-zoning fee amendment setting a $250 administrative fee plus actual postage costs.

What was on the agenda

8 items as recorded in the agenda, packet, and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. 1Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

    Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: 7:00 p.m.

    The commission opened the meeting, took roll, approved the presented agenda, approved the July 22, 2025 minutes, and adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

    The meeting was called to order and the pledge was recited.

    • routine meeting business
    No action
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: 7:00 p.m.p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)Chair Ames called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those assembled recited the pledge of allegiance.

  2. 2Roll Call

    Roll Call

    The commission opened the meeting, took roll, approved the presented agenda, approved the July 22, 2025 minutes, and adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

    Roll call was taken.

    • routine meeting business
    No action
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)2. Roll Callp. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)Present: Commissioners Ames, Jorgenson, Haapala (Arrived 7:05pm), Carlson, Bies, and Pearo Also Present: Planner Nash, City Clerk Johnson Absent: Commissioner Lewis, Liaison Mayor Hybben

  3. 3Approve/Amend Agenda

    Approve/Amend Agenda

    The commission opened the meeting, took roll, approved the presented agenda, approved the July 22, 2025 minutes, and adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

    The presented agenda was approved.

    • routine meeting business
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)3. Approve/Amend Agendap. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE PRESENTED AGENDA. FIVE (5) AYES - COMMISSIONERS AMES, JORGENSON, CARLSON, PEARO, BIES. MOTION PASSED. (COMMISSIONER HAAPALA ARRIVED LATE)

  4. 4Approve July 22, 2025, Meeting Minutes

    Approve July 22, 2025, Meeting Minutes

    The commission opened the meeting, took roll, approved the presented agenda, approved the July 22, 2025 minutes, and adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

    The July 22, 2025 minutes were approved, although the minutes section heading says June 24, 2025.

    • routine meeting business
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)4. Approve July 22, 2025, Meeting Minutesp. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY CARLSON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 22, 2025. SIX (6) AYES. MOTION PASSED.

  5. 5Public Hearings

    Public Hearings

    The commission held the public hearing on the Paradise application to allow cannabis cultivation as an interim use in the Rural Residential Agriculture zoning district. After discussing acreage, licensing, owner-occupancy, setbacks, agricultural tax classification, and the need for a later interim use permit, the commission carried a motion recommending approval with a 20-acre minimum, owner occupation, 500-foot property setbacks, micro licensing only, and removal of the agricultural tax classification requirement.

    The commission considered the fee ordinance amendment for planning and zoning applications. Instead of keeping a separate upfront public hearing charge, the commission carried a motion for a $250 administrative fee plus actual postage costs assessed to the applicant.

    This was the agenda heading for the two public hearing items that followed.

    • cannabis cultivation zoning amendment
    • planning and zoning fee amendment
    Discussion only
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)5. Public Hearings a. Amendment to Zoning Ordinance re: Cannabis Cultivation b. Amendment to Fee Ordinance

  6. 5aAmendment to Zoning Ordinance re: Cannabis Cultivation

    Amendment to Zoning Ordinance re: Cannabis Cultivation

    The commission held the public hearing on the Paradise application to allow cannabis cultivation as an interim use in the Rural Residential Agriculture zoning district. After discussing acreage, licensing, owner-occupancy, setbacks, agricultural tax classification, and the need for a later interim use permit, the commission carried a motion recommending approval with a 20-acre minimum, owner occupation, 500-foot property setbacks, micro licensing only, and removal of the agricultural tax classification requirement.

    The commission voted to recommend approval with added requirements: 20-acre minimum, owner occupation, 500-foot property setbacks, micro licensing only, and removal of the agricultural tax classification requirement.

    • cannabis cultivation zoning amendment
    Approved with conditions
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)a. Amendment to Zoning Ordinance re: Cannabis Cultivationp. 3Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION WITH THE NOTES REGARDING 20- ACRE MINIMUM, OWNER OCCUPATION, PROPERTY SETBACKS OF 500 FEET, MICRO LICENSING ONLY, AND REMOVING THE AGRICULTERAL TAX CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENT. FIVE (4) AYES \- COMMISS…

  7. 5bAmendment to Fee Ordinance

    Amendment to Fee Ordinance

    The commission considered the fee ordinance amendment for planning and zoning applications. Instead of keeping a separate upfront public hearing charge, the commission carried a motion for a $250 administrative fee plus actual postage costs assessed to the applicant.

    The commission approved the fee amendment as a $250 administrative fee plus actual postage costs assessed to the applicant.

    • planning and zoning fee amendment
    Approved with conditions
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)b. Amendment to Fee Ordinancep. 4Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARLSON TO APPROVE THE FEE AMENDMENT WITH A $250 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PLUS ACTUAL POSTAGE COSTS TO BE ASSESSED TO THE APPLICANT. SIX (6) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

  8. 6Adjournment

    Adjournment

    The commission opened the meeting, took roll, approved the presented agenda, approved the July 22, 2025 minutes, and adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

    The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

    • routine meeting business
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Agenda (2025-08-26)6. Adjournmentp. 4Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY CARLSON, SECONDED BY HAAPALA, TO ADJOURN. Meeting adjourned at 8:01pm

Motions and votes

5 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

  • M1MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE PRESENTED AGENDA.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE PRESENTED AGENDA.

    moved by Pearo, seconded by Bies

    Passed
    • YAmes
    • YJorgenson
    • YCarlson
    • YPearo
    • YBies
    • ·Haapala
    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE PRESENTED AGENDA. FIVE (5) AYES - COMMISSIONERS AMES, JORGENSON, CARLSON, PEARO, BIES. MOTION PASSED. (COMMISSIONER HAAPALA ARRIVED LATE)

  • M2MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY CARLSON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 22, 2025.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY CARLSON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 22, 2025.

    moved by Pearo, seconded by Carlson

    Passed

    SIX (6) AYES. MOTION PASSED.

    p. 1Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY CARLSON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 22, 2025. SIX (6) AYES. MOTION PASSED.

  • M3MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION WITH THE NOTES REGARDING 20- ACRE MINIMUM, OWNER OCCUPATION, PROPERTY SETBACKS OF 500 FEET, MICRO LICENSING ONLY, AND REMOVING THE AGRICULTERAL TAX CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION WITH THE NOTES REGARDING 20- ACRE MINIMUM, OWNER OCCUPATION, PROPERTY SETBACKS OF 500 FEET, MICRO LICENSING ONLY, AND REMOVING THE AGRICULTERAL TAX CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

    moved by Pearo, seconded by Bies

    PassedSplit vote
    • YPearo
    • YBies
    • YCarlson
    • YJorgenson
    • NAmes
    • NHaapala
    p. 3Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEARO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION WITH THE NOTES REGARDING 20- ACRE MINIMUM, OWNER OCCUPATION, PROPERTY SETBACKS OF 500 FEET, MICRO LICENSING ONLY, AND REMOVING THE AGRICULTERAL TAX CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENT. FIVE (4) AYES \- COMMISS…

  • M4MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARLSON TO APPROVE THE FEE AMENDMENT WITH A $250 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PLUS ACTUAL POSTAGE COSTS TO BE ASSESSED TO THE APPLICANT.

    Exact transcript text

    MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARLSON TO APPROVE THE FEE AMENDMENT WITH A $250 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PLUS ACTUAL POSTAGE COSTS TO BE ASSESSED TO THE APPLICANT.

    moved by Haapala, seconded by Carlson

    Passed

    SIX (6) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

    p. 4Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAAPALA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARLSON TO APPROVE THE FEE AMENDMENT WITH A $250 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PLUS ACTUAL POSTAGE COSTS TO BE ASSESSED TO THE APPLICANT. SIX (6) AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

  • M5MOTION BY CARLSON, SECONDED BY HAAPALA, TO ADJOURN.

    moved by Carlson, seconded by Haapala

    Passed
    p. 4Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)MOTION BY CARLSON, SECONDED BY HAAPALA, TO ADJOURN. Meeting adjourned at 8:01pm

Prior history on this business

When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.

  • Discussion ensued about whether the current RRA restriction limited cannabis cultivation to indoor only, with commissioners remembering the previous discussion but not the final outcome. Nash indicated she would need to check the ordinance.

    — Commissioners

    What this is about
    Commissioners were trying to recall the prior cannabis ordinance discussion and whether the current RRA restriction was indoor-only.

    p. 2Meeting Planning & Zoning Meeting — Minutes (2025-08-26)Discussion ensued about whether the current RRA restriction limited cannabis cultivation to indoor only, with commissioners remembering the previous discussion but not the final outcome. Nash indicated she would need to check the ordinance.

    Related history

    The records show a relevant discussion at the March 24, 2026 meeting during a public hearing on what Planner Nash described as Nowthen’s first cannabis cultivation permit. The applicant described cultivation occurring only during the growing season, approximately May through October, with security measures such as 24-hour monitoring, electronic access controls, and inspections. Nash clarified that the ordinance limited such operations to properties of at least 20 acres, with cultivation at least 200 feet from property lines and 500 feet from residences, schools, and daycare facilities. The excerpts found do not show Nash saying the RRA restriction was indoor-only; if anything, the March 24 discussion appears to have contemplated seasonal outdoor cultivation subject to acreage, setback, and security requirements. However, the search results provided do not include the original ordinance adoption discussion or a recorded final vote resolving the “indoor-only” question, so this is a partial match rather than a complete history of the ordinance decision.

    • Apr 28, 2026cultivation would only occur during the growing season from approximately May through October, and described the extensi
    • Mar 24, 2026cultivation would only occur during the growing season from approximately May through October, and described the extensi
    • Dec 23, 20259 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com>
    • Dec 23, 2025· All employees are well-trained, long-term employees · All THC edibles are kept behind the counter, not accessible to t
    • Apr 14, 2026### environment that is used only for the storage of regulated products. All regulated cannabis plants and products will

Where this came up before

  1. Apr 28, 2026
    City Meeting

    cultivation would only occur during the growing season from approximately May through October, and described the extensive security requirements including 24-hour monitoring, electronic access co

    Doccultivation would only occur during the growing season from approximately May through October, and described the extensive security requirements including 24-hour monitoring, electronic access co
  2. Mar 24, 2026
    City Meeting

    cultivation would only occur during the growing season from approximately May through October, and described the extensive security requirements including 24-hour monitoring, electronic access control

    Doccultivation would only occur during the growing season from approximately May through October, and described the extensive security requirements including 24-hour monitoring, electronic access controls, and mandatory ins
  3. Dec 23, 2025
    City Meeting

    9 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com> Subject: RE: PID: 17-33-25-23-0004 Parcel Split Minor Subdivision for K Land De

    Doc9 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com> Subject: RE: PID: 17-33-25-23-0004 Parcel Split Minor Subdivision for K Land Development Cindy N
  4. Dec 23, 2025
    City Meeting

    · All employees are well-trained, long-term employees · All THC edibles are kept behind the counter, not accessible to the public · Most customers who purchase THC are over 60 years old and use

    Doc· All employees are well-trained, long-term employees · All THC edibles are kept behind the counter, not accessible to the public · Most customers who purchase THC are over 60 years old and use
  5. Apr 14, 2026
    City Meeting

    ### environment that is used only for the storage of regulated products. All regulated cannabis plants and products will be stored in secure, sanitary areas used exclusively for cannabis storage. Harv

    Doc### environment that is used only for the storage of regulated products. All regulated cannabis plants and products will be stored in secure, sanitary areas used exclusively for cannabis storage. Harvested cannabis will be placed in design

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

Show a sample of the transcript (411 segments, 1:01:48 total)
  • 0:00 I aliance to the flag to the flag of the United States of
  • 0:09 America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible
  • 0:19 for all. The first thing on the agenda is the
  • 0:29 roll call. >> Take the roll call. >> Chair Ames >> here. >> Council member Ha.
  • 0:39 >> Al member Ha. >> Council me I'm sorry. Commissioner Bees. Commissioner Carlson >> here.
  • 0:48 >> Commissioner Harold >> here. Commissioner Commissioner Jorgensson >> here. >> Commissioner Lewis.
  • 0:56 Commission planner Nash here and city clerk Natalie Johnson. All complete.
  • 1:05 >> Thank you. The next thing is approve agenda for the night.
  • 1:14 This motion. >> I'll make the motion to approve the agenda for the season.
  • 1:22 >> I'll second. >> Commissioner B. Second. apparel. Want to make a motion? Any discussion?
  • 1:32 Seeing none, we'll call for the vote. All in favor say I. >> The next thing we're going to do is
  • 1:39 approve the July 22nd, 2025 meeting minutes. We have a motion for this. >> I'll make a motion to approve the
  • Showing first 12 segments. Open the YouTube video for the full transcript.

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