Aug. 25 Public Hearing: Zoning Code Updates

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

CITY OF MARINE ON ST. CROIX

PLANNING COMMISSION

Tuesday, August 25, 2026
7:10 pm, Village Hall, 121 Judd Street or remotely via Zoom

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Marine on St. Croix Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 7:10 p.m. regarding updates to the Zoning Code. There may also be a quorum of City Council members.

Additional details are available at the City office during regular business hours and on the City website. See the proposed changes.

 

Dated this 29th day of July, 2026
By: Suzanne Lindgren, Assistant City Clerk


Summary of Proposed Housekeeping Zoning Code Amendments

The Planning Commission is recommending a series of housekeeping updates to the Zoning Code. Most of these changes are intended to clarify existing regulations, update definitions, improve organization, and address topics that were not fully covered when the current code was adopted.

The most notable proposed changes include:

  • Home occupations: The ordinance clarifies what types of businesses may operate from a home, establishes standards for selling handcrafted goods made on site, and allows participation in up to four organized Open Studio weekends or similar community events each year. Participation in such events would not require additional permitting unless the thresholds for a special event permit were reached. Larger home-based businesses would still require an interim use permit.

  • Temporary storage units: The proposal defines temporary storage containers (such as PODS), prohibits permanent commercial shipping containers, establishes a maximum size, limits most temporary storage units to 45 days per year (or longer during active construction), and sets standards for where they may be placed on a property.

  • Hoop houses: The ordinance adds a definition for hoop houses and establishes standards allowing them as accessory structures for growing food or ornamental crops in certain residential districts.

  • Solar energy systems: New standards distinguish between building-mounted, ground-mounted, and community-scale solar installations. The proposal establishes permitting, location, screening, size, safety, and decommissioning requirements for each type of system.

  • Cannabis-related businesses: The code adds operational standards for cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and delivery businesses that are already allowed under the City's zoning regulations. These standards address issues such as odors, lighting, noise, security, screening, setbacks, and water use. No changes are proposed to retail regulations.

  • Definitions and administrative updates: The ordinance adds or updates several definitions (including hoop houses, temporary storage units, solar energy systems, seasonal produce stands, and daycare uses), updates zoning tables to reflect existing regulations, corrects cross-references, and makes other technical edits throughout the code to improve clarity and consistency.


    Overall, these amendments are intended to make the zoning code easier to understand and administer while addressing several common questions that have arisen since the code was adopted. Most proposed changes clarify or refine existing regulations rather than substantially changing land use policy.