A proposed cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility in St. Cloud has cleared its final city hurdle and can now set up shop roughly 630 feet from Apollo High School property. The St. Cloud Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3 to 1 Tuesday night to grant GRS Northtown, LLC and Cocina Mexicana, LLC a 370-foot variance from the city's rule requiring cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, and related businesses to stay at least 1,000 feet from any K-12 school.
Board member Fatima Mohamed cast the lone opposing vote, citing concerns about a facility of this type being located so close to a high school. No one spoke in opposition to the project during a public hearing. Remaining approvals will come from the state, including the Office of Cannabis Management. Steven Letnes of Cold Spring is the CEO and an investor, owner, and partner in the project, which is operating as Grow One.
He spoke with KNSI News moments after getting approval and was pleased with the board's decision. "Feeling very good. It's going to be a good project for the city. We have lots of jobs, probably 100 good-paying jobs, and we're just going to go to work."
No retail sales will take place on site, at 14 and 16 McLeland Road, and the facility will not be open to the public. There will be no exterior signage identifying it as a cannabis business.
Read more at KNSI Radio
