The Town of Newburgh will hold a public hearing to seek input from residents regarding a change to local laws to allow for the recreational sale of marijuana in stores.
“The Town really doesn’t have a lot of flexibility. This has been dictated by the State,” Town of Newburgh Planning Board member Pat Hines explained during a meeting earlier this month. “There’s kind of an urgency to get this done at the Town Board level because they’re starting to license these premises.”
The Town Board referred this item to the Planning Board, which discussed it in great lengths before returning the proposal to the Town Board. The Planning Board’s purpose was to determine if the proposed law changes are consistent with zoning laws and a comprehensive plan.
Dominic Cordisco, a local attorney and consultant for the Planning Board, explained that the Town Board introduced the local law for the retail sale of marijuana at existing medical marijuana facilities or at facilities allowed in particular zones within the Town of Newburgh.
Each proposed facility would be subject to site plan approval and a special use permit, Cordisco noted. If a business owner wishes to open a retail marijuana shop, they would make a proposal with the Town of Newburgh. The Planning Board will review the application, site plan, and special use permit. New York State must also sign off on licensing requirements.
“One important distinction here is that the Town Board is proposing to make this a special use permit use for cannabis,” Cordisco told the Planning Board, “So the Board will have increased authority over ensuring that the proposed use is also consistent with the surrounding neighborhoods.”
Planning Board member John Ward questioned if the proposal will cover selling marijuana from vehicles. He pointed out that people are selling marijuana out of vans in New York City. “They’re illegal,” Cordisco declared.
The proposal would prohibit recreational marijuana stores from being located near schools, playgrounds, recreational facilities, and more.
If the Town Board does not adopt the local law, facilities could be licensed by the State and would not be subject to any restrictions whatsoever by the Town of Newburgh, Cordisco said. “We’re doing our due diligence,” stated Planning Board Chairman John Ewasutyn.
The Planning Board voted unanimously to authorize Cordisco to send a favorable report to the Town Board recommending the local law changes.
The public hearing will be held during the Town Board’s regularly scheduled workshop meeting tomorrow night – Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at 7:00pm at the Newburgh Town Hall on Union Avenue.
