Ham Lake approved a conditional use permit for a flower farm despite residents raising concerns about noise from events featuring live music.
The City Council voted 4-0 at its March 2 meeting to allow Branch and Bloom Flower Farm to operate at 13401 Radisson Road NE.
The permit was requested by Kari Kearns of Cadillac Ranch LLC. Residents raised concerns about noise from events held at the property after the farm opened.
Gary Rasmussen, a Ham Lake resident, said the property looked nice but argued it should not be used to stretch zoning rules. He said banners at the property advertised events such as weddings and bridal showers once the site became presentable but made no mention of flower growing, pumpkin sales or Christmas tree sales.
Rasmussen also raised concerns about a planned turn lane by Anoka County and questioned whether the construction could affect the city’s decision on the permit.
Other concerns raised during the meeting included four reported noise complaints tied to the property and questions about whether live music and events were consistent with residential zoning in the area. Residents also urged the council to consider a temporary conditional use permit that would give the city greater ability to regulate noise generated at the property.
Kearns told the council during the public forum that she and her husband own the property, which they purchased in 2023 under an LLC named after Bruce Springsteen’s song “Cadillac Ranch.”
The family had initially been looking for a fixer-upper cabin before finding the farm. Kearns said her husband, Clayton, and his relatives grew up spending time on their grandparents’ farm in Foley and that the barn on the property reminded him of his grandfather’s barn.
“We invested time, money, blood, broken bones-literally broken bones-into cleaning this run down farm,” Kearns said. “I tried my hand at growing flowers, as flower arranging had become a hobby of mine, and a local farmer kindly said he would teach me more about farming, making the growing process more successful.”
Kearns said neighbors frequently stopped by as the couple worked on the property and commented on the transformation.
Kearns started Branch and Bloom in 2024. In the summer of 2025, the farm hosted “You Pick Flower” nights and operated a weekly flower stand. Photographers also used the property as a backdrop for family photos. The farm hosted a sourdough bread workshop and a holiday porch pot workshop in a heated garage.
Addressing the noise concerns, Kearns said the farm held a grand opening event featuring the Johnny Holm Band, a group in the Minnesota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The event used one of the city’s four large-event permits.
“There were complaints about the noise. The police came,” Kearns said. “We turned down the volume, and the music ended at 10 as the permit required.”
Kearns said another event permit was used for a family wedding, and that no formal complaints were made.
Kearns said a banner on the property advertised photography sessions, farmhouse rentals for events and seasonal flowers, not weddings as some residents had claimed.
City Attorney Mark Berglund said the proposal met the city’s definition of a dwelling unit under the relevant code, which allows occupancy by one or more people not necessarily related in a dwelling containing a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping quarters.
Berglund added the property is in an RA zoning district, which allows certain small businesses through a conditional use permit.
Mayor Brian Kirkham clarified that the city distinguishes between RA1 zoning and RA zoning.
“RA is more where you have a little bit more land, you have more options, you can grow things and sell them to the public,” Kirkham said. “So you can have the public coming and going into the house.”
Kirkham said the Kearns had been discussing ideas with the city for several years, including a brewery concept. They had also discussed hosting weddings, which city staff did not support.
Council Member Mike Van Kirk said Ham Lake strongly supports property rights but that conditional use permits often create challenges.
“The biggest problem we got, it bites us in the butt, it’s CUPs. Every time,” Van Kirk said. “And so we’ve gotta cross our Ts and dot our Is.”
Van Kirk said the city wanted to avoid a situation where the applicants conducted activities not listed in the permit.
City Clerk Dawnette Shimek said the applicants would not be allowed to bring in Christmas trees or pumpkins for sale and instead would need to grow them on the property to comply with zoning requirements.
Berglund said the city enforces zoning and permit rules primarily through resident complaints rather than proactive inspections. The permit also includes conditions stating that if a planned county turn lane is not approved, the conditional use permit would not be valid.
“If there’s a complaint that they’re doing something that is beyond what is allowed in the permit, then that subjects their permit to being revoked,” Berglund said.
Berglund said the flowers, as well as other plants and trees, must be grown on the property or the permit could be revoked. He added that the permit could also be revoked if there are noise complaints.
City Administrator Denise Webster said the permit also requires that there be no on-street parking. Berglund confirmed the permit limits events to a maximum of 50 attendees. Kearns said earlier that the property has parking for about 15 vehicles.
Addressing the earlier noise complaint, Berglund said deputies responded to the event and instructed the applicants to lower the volume. They complied, and no citations were issued.
Webster said the permit is permanent unless revoked.
Kirkham said he appreciated the improvements made to the property.
“I think everybody agrees what you did to the property, it’s gorgeous,” Kirkham said. “You didn’t buy the property and put seven homes there, which you could have done.”