Town of Babylon planning board holds informational hearing on proposed West Babylon cannabis dispensary

The Town of Babylon Planning Board held an informational hearing Aug. 18 on an application to convert two storage units at 111 Cabot Road in West Babylon into a 2,050‑square‑foot adult‑use cannabis dispensary operated by AB KANN LLC.

The applicant’s attorney, Kevin Walsh of Walsh, Marcus, McDougal & DeBellas, said the proposal would convert two of eight storage units in the building into retail space while retaining secured interior storage for product. Walsh said the applicant would operate under a New York State cannabis license and “meet all of those requirements.”

The application calls for a secure vestibule at the front entrance that functions as a controlled entry, interior and exterior cameras, and locked storage behind a pass‑through window. Architect Salvatore Ferrara of Combined Resources Consulting and Design said the vestibule “is actually a man trap so we can control who’s coming in and going out.” He added that the state code allows a single exit for a facility of this size provided travel distance limits are met and that the design had been discussed with town officials.

Why it matters: The proposal would place an adult‑use cannabis retail outlet in an industrial section of West Babylon. Planning and safety details — including parking, points of ingress/egress, emergency egress, trash pickup logistics and delivery procedures — were the focus of board questions. The board closed the hearing and reserved decision pending additional review and written comments.

Details of the proposal and board questions - Size and location: The retail and secure storage area would total 2,050 square feet and occupy two units of an eight‑unit warehouse at 111 Cabot Road. The applicant said roughly one‑third of the leased area will remain secured storage. - Hours and staffing: The applicant said the dispensary would be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Walsh said the operator expects three to four employees on site most days; managers named during the hearing said staffing could increase if delivery demand rises. - Parking: The site plan submitted to the board shows 18 parking spaces after the addition of two on‑site spaces; the applicant said that count satisfies their calculations but noted zoning board review will be required for parking and a special permit for cannabis retail. The planning attorney told the board that the applicant will pursue a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the use. - Security and operations: The design includes a secure vestibule with interlocking doors, an interior surveillance/security room, interior/exterior cameras, and locked product storage accessible only to employees. Ferrara said display shelving will contain only limited retail items and that most saleable product will be kept in the secured storage area; product will be moved from storage through a pass‑through window similar to a teller station. - Deliveries and trash: The applicant said deliveries would be made by company vehicles and would not be parked overnight at the site; deliveries are expected to arrive before opening. Trash will be placed in a screened, town‑approved dumpster area; the civil plan shows space for a refuse vehicle to access and roll out bins. - Life‑safety features: The architect and applicant said the building currently lacks sprinklers. To increase fire separation from adjacent units, the team proposed adding a one‑hour rated wall against the existing 10‑inch concrete masonry unit (CMU) fire wall, creating an effective two‑hour barrier between the dispensary and neighboring storage units. They said the design and egress path had been reviewed with the building department and the fire marshal, including Inspector Bambino and Building Department staff.

Board concerns and requested follow‑up Planning board members asked for confirmation and documentation on several items before a decision: whether a single ingress/egress complies with the town and state requirements for the combined retail/storage occupancy; the maximum permitted occupancy for the space; the construction details and rating of the shared wall between units; loading/delivery procedures and whether delivery vehicles could be parked overnight; and whether the dumpster and parking modifications provide adequate maneuvering room for refuse collection.

Public comment and outcome No members of the public addressed the board at the hearing. Planning board member Julianne Nolan moved to close the hearing and reserve decision; the motion was seconded by Planning board member Daniel Trukin, and the board closed the hearing by voice vote and reserved decision pending further review and written comments. The planning department’s review memorandum dated Aug. 13 by Commissioner Denise Graziano was on the record and available to board members for follow‑up.

Next steps The board left the record open for written comments and directed staff to provide application materials for public inspection at the Planning Department in the West Wing of Town Hall between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., by phone at (631) 957‑3103, or by email at planningcomments@townofbabylonny.gov. The applicant indicated it will proceed with required zoning board and state licensing steps as the local review continues.