Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Winsted Planning Commission recommends St. Mary’s CUP, excluding pharmacy



WINSTED, MN – The Winsted Planning Commission met Wednesday to review a request by St. Mary’s for a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate a retail business on its campus.

“The Planning Commission did not deny the CUP. The CUP was passed allowing a revised commercial use that was proposed by the applicants (St. Mary’s and Keaveny Drug),” Chairman Marv Ebensperger said.

Both St. Mary’s Administrator/CEO Andy Opsahl and Keaveny Drug CEO Deb Keaveny were present at the planning meeting offering a new plan.

They suggested the retail site at St. Mary’s would be similar to a country store and would offer cards, gifts, snacks, ice cream, coffee, floral items, over-the-counter drugs and sundries, according to the draft minutes of the meeting.

The St. Mary’s store would not have prescription sales.

Keaveny said she has decided to maintain the pharmacy at the downtown location on Main Avenue, and a lease agreement would be drafted between Keaveny and St. Mary’s Care Center according to the draft minutes of the meeting.

The commission unanimously recommended approval of the CUP, according to Ebensperger with the following business stipulations:

• Regular public business hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• The commercial business would be one featuring a “country store” setting with retail products.

• Products and materials must be non-prescription sales.

• Give store material preferences to Winsted businesses.

Winsted City Administrator Andrew Elbert was present at the meeting.

He stated that an approved CUP must be renewed annually by the City of Winsted Planning Commission. The annual review takes place each year on the date the original CUP was granted. Elbert also stated that if a pharmacy would be proposed in the future, the proposal would have to be presented to the planning commission as either a renewal, or a new CUP, according to the draft minutes of the meeting.

Elbert later said of the meeting, “In general, I thought the planning commission was very thorough and very thoughtful.They listened to the concerns of the residents and the council listened as well.”

The CUP will be forwarded to the city council for its review at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 21.





















































































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