Farmingdale zoning board hears proposal for Neo Wellness cannabis dispensary on Allen Boulevard

Neo Wellness asked the Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals for a special-permit approval to open a retail cannabis dispensary at 135 Allen Boulevard in Farmingdale, a mostly industrial block south of Republic Airport.

The applicant, represented by attorney John Anzalone of Harris Beach PLLC, described keeping the existing 1953 building footprint while converting the rear for parking, adding curbing, screening a dumpster, installing a fire suppression connection per the fire marshal, and providing 10 parking stalls. Abhishek Anand, who identified himself as the facility representative, described store operations and security: "We would have a security guard there. ID check would be, like, a bar system ID check, like they check you at the door, make sure they're verified. They would walk through that counter. There would be a greeter in the middle" who would direct customers to available counters.

The application included a parking and traffic study by Aaron Maktay of VHB Engineering. Maktay told the board that Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) data for marijuana dispensaries shows weekend midday peaks and that, for this site, the project would generate less than a roughly 10% increase in peak-period traffic compared with normal daily variation on Allen Boulevard. He also reported that ITE parking-generation data indicated a maximum parking demand of about 10 vehicles and that the proposed 10 stalls should meet that demand.

Neighbors said they were concerned that the industrial-area traffic patterns and existing truck movements make curbside and on-site circulation tight. Acy Bill Sajili, who said he owns the adjacent property at 137 Allen Boulevard, told the board: "I object to them opening a dispensary next door to me. ... I'm concerned for the safety of my trucks going in and out because we have various hours that we go in and out." Another neighbor, Jeremy Marano of 131 Allen Boulevard, said: "It's already a problem where we have people parking illegally. ... I don't see 10 spots being adequate."

The applicant said deliveries would be made behind the building outside hours of operation and that no delivery vehicles would be stored overnight on the site. Business hours proposed follow other local dispensaries: Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Abhishek Anand said the applicant anticipates five employees per shift including two security guards.

Board members asked for clarification of the front-yard parking variance and planning-department comments; the board said re-advertising for front-yard parking would be required before the board could take final action. The hearing was closed and the board reserved decision; the record remains open for additional materials and required re-advertising.

Why it matters: the application would introduce a regulated retail cannabis use into an established industrial block and raise questions about traffic, parking and neighbor impacts that the board will weigh when it issues a written decision.