The Town of Newburgh Planning Board reviewed a proposal for a new cannabis dispensary during its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3. The proposed business, named “Cortland Commons Cannabis Retail,” would be located at 5440 Route 9W within the Cortland Commons development project.

The board voted to circulate the project to the Orange County Planning Department for review and comment. The dispensary is being considered under a special use permit application due to its intended retail cannabis use in an existing 2,305-square-foot building. Brandon Petrella of Mauri Architects PC, based in Poughkeepsie, represented the project.

The building would not include a walk-in cooler, which was removed from the site plan. The proposal includes the potential use of an existing drive-thru lane, although it would require approval from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. Additionally, signage for the dispensary will need approval from the town’s building department as the application progresses.

A memo from MHE Engineering outlined five key requirements for cannabis retail dispensaries, including adequate lighting during and after hours of operation, trash disposal facilities, exterior maintenance, and preventing the visibility of cannabis-related products from public spaces. The use of outdoor sound systems is also restricted.

Petrella emphasized that the site would be used strictly for retail sales, with no on-site consumption of products. The building would feature two entrance points, one of which is planned to be closed. Customers would be required to present proper identification before completing transactions. Although displays would be available for viewing, no actual products would be on display.

The proposed operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The site will include security measures, such as surveillance cameras.

The next step in the approval process includes notifying nearby residents and submitting a 239 review to Orange County, as the project is located along a state highway and requires county input. The site is near several residential neighborhoods, including Morris Drive and Parr Valley East.