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🍨 Cannabis, Property Tax Appeals, and Plymouth’s Top 10 Ranking—This Week’s News

🍨 Cannabis, Property Tax Appeals, and Plymouth’s Top 10 Ranking—This Week’s News

Dustin Hart
February 05, 2025

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Good day, Wayzata. This is Wayzata Scoop. We’d send you flowers, but a fresh batch of local news is just as thoughtful.

In today’s Scoop:

Emerald Ash Borer Update: What’s Next for Wayzata’s Trees? 🌳
Wayzata Property Valuation Notices Coming Soon—What You Need to Know 🏠
Plymouth Ranks Among Top 10 Best Places to Live in the Midwest! 📈
Wayzata Updates Cannabis Regulations 🌱

Let’s roll into it.

— Dustin Hart

📢 TALK OF THE TOWN

Ash Tree Removal & Replacement Plan Underway in Wayzata

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been wreaking havoc on Wayzata’s ash trees since 2019, and by now, it’s safe to assume that virtually all untreated ash trees in the area are hosting this destructive beetle—even if they don’t show signs yet.

To protect our urban canopy, the City of Wayzata has already removed and replaced hundreds of public ash trees and committed to long-term injection treatments for 100 others. But there’s still work to be done.

What’s happening?

75 ash trees marked with an orange or white ‘X’ are scheduled for removal in the coming weeks. Replacement plantings will be completed throughout the 2025 growing season by City staff. 300 untreated ash trees remain along city right-of-way, with ongoing plans for management.

Got an ash tree?

If you have an ash tree on your property and want to give it a fighting chance, there’s still time!

Rainbow Treecare is offering discounts on EAB injection treatments—plus deals on critical oak and elm preservation work. Learn more: Rainbow Treecare - Wayzata

Lost a tree? Stay tuned for details on the City of Wayzata’s annual potted tree giveaway—your chance to replace lost trees and keep Wayzata green.

Questions? Contact the City Forester at 612-456-5999 or [email protected].

Wayzata Property Valuation Notices Arriving in March

Hennepin County will be mailing out 2025 Property Valuation and Classification notices next month.

These valuations determine your property taxes due in 2026, so it’s worth taking a look.

^{Think Your Property Value Looks Off? Here’s What to Do:}

Step 1: Contact the Assessor
If you believe your estimated market value or classification is incorrect, reach out to Hennepin County’s Assessor at 612-348-3046 as soon as you receive your notice. They may be able to answer your questions without requiring a formal appeal.

Step 2: Attend the Board of Appeal & Equalization Meeting
Still not satisfied after speaking with the Assessor? If you have supporting evidence to challenge your valuation, you can present your case at the Board of Appeal & Equalization Meeting:

🗓 Thursday, April 17
⏰ 5:30 p.m.
📍 Wayzata City Hall

Keep in mind—this meeting is only for appeals related to property value or classification for 2025 (taxes payable in 2026). Current property taxes will not be discussed.

Questions? Don’t wait—reach out to the Assessor’s Office early to ensure you have time to review your valuation!

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Plymouth Named One of the Best Places to Live in the Midwest!

Plymouth has officially been ranked #7 on Consumer Affairs’ list of the Best Places to Live in the Midwest, making it the highest-ranked city in the state and the only Minnesota city to crack the top 25.

What set Plymouth apart? Its strong economy, which ranked #4 overall among the Midwest’s 100 largest cities.

How the Rankings Worked:

Consumer Affairs scored cities based on:
• Safety & Affordability (weighted most heavily)
• Economy (second most important)
• Education & Quality of Life (also factored in)

Minnesota Cities in the Rankings

While Plymouth led the pack at #7, 11 other Minnesota cities made the list:
#26 – Lakeville
#30 – Woodbury
#37 – Rochester
#46 – Maple Grove
#52 – Blaine
#64 – Bloomington
#67 – Duluth
#69 – Brooklyn Park
#73 – St. Cloud
#83 – St. Paul
#96 – Minneapolis

Plymouth’s top-10 finish proves what locals already know—our city is thriving, safe, and one of the best places to live in the Midwest!

How Is Wayzata Handling Cannabis?

With Minnesota legalizing cannabis, cities are required to allow certain cannabis-related uses—but Wayzata has taken a measured approach to regulation.

This January, the City of Wayzata updated its zoning code to allow limited cannabis businesses in specific commercial districts while putting a regulatory framework in place to protect public health, safety, and quality of life.

What About a City-Run Dispensary?

Over the past year, Wayzata explored the possibility of running its own dispensary with two key goals:
💰 Generating additional revenue to help reduce the tax levy.
🚦 Controlling cannabis sales within the city.

However, after careful review, the City Council voted in January to discontinue its exploration into the cannabis industry.

📌 Want to learn more?

View the Jan. 7 City Council agenda at wayzata.org/agendas for full details.

📖 QOTW (QUOTE OF THE WEEK)

"Get busy living or get busy dying." — Stephen King

🌪️ WEATHER WATCH

This week's forecast is brought to you by Mother Nature’s mood swings—some clouds, a little snow, and a slow descent into ‘why do we live here?’ territory.

Wed 05 25°/15° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧56%

Thu 06 18°/3° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧4%

Fri 07 21°/13° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧9%

Sat 08 20°/-3° Snow 🌨️ | 💧94%

Sun 09 16°/-3° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧7%

Mon 10 14°/-5° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧14%

Tue 11 4°/-13° Partly Cloudy 🌥️ | 💧7%

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