Board holds special‑permit hearing for proposed Medford cannabis retail store; applicant limits use to retail only

The Town of Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals on May 28 heard a special‑permit application for a proposed cannabis retail establishment at the southwest corner of Munsell Road and Horseblock Road in Medford. Staff identified five town code criteria for cannabis retailers; the proposed location required special‑permit relief because of proximity to a residential zone referenced in a prior case.

What happened: Planner James Reid told the board the town code (section 85‑569) requires, among other things, that retail cannabis operations not be within 500 feet of a residential use or zone and not be within a 1‑mile radius of another cannabis retail business. The planning report concluded that the application meets most of the code criteria but recommended special‑permit conditions if the board looked favorably on the application.

Applicant’s commitments: The applicant, Mohammed Janaed (330 Motor Parkway, Suite 201, Hauppauge), told the board he would operate “strictly retail” and explicitly confirmed that there will be no indoor cannabis consumption on the premises. He also described security measures he intends to provide: 24‑hour surveillance, two on‑site security guards, vault storage and overnight cash/security practices. He said hours were undecided but suggested 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and told the board his peak customer estimate was about 25–28 patrons.

Staff recommended conditions and process: Staff recommended that no building permit be issued until the applicant obtains the applicable New York State license, that indoor use be prohibited, that days and hours be vetted and that surveillance/security measures and the number of employees be clarified. The planner also recommended the board consider limiting the duration of the special permit and tying any grant to the town board planning review and environmental review (unlisted action under SEQRA).

Board action: After questions about parking, hours and security, the board voted to close the hearing and hold the record for a later decision. No final approval was issued at the meeting.

Clarifying details: Applicant reported 26 parking spaces on site; peak customer estimate was about 25–28 at peak times; hours suggested 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; the site is in an industrial area with residences farther away; staff noted one required relief relates to proximity to a residential zone due to a prior case for 262 Middle Island Road LLC.