New Rochelle commission approves Cannabis Reserve signage after debate over nighttime illumination

The New Rochelle Municipal Arts Commission voted to approve phase-two signage for The Cannabis Reserve at 1307 North Avenue on Nov. 5, concluding a discussion over visibility and lighting control for an upper illuminated sign.

Seth Kornblau of Sign Design and JC Awning presented the application, explaining the work includes recovering an existing awning, installing non-illuminated channel letters over a rear entrance and adding an illuminated upper sign visible from the back parking area. "The letter height is 5.8 inches," Kornblau said when asked about the size of rear lettering intended for the second entrance.

Commissioners and attendees expressed concern about the upper illuminated sign’s visibility from neighboring apartment buildings and asked whether the fixture could be dimmed or otherwise made less intrusive at night. One commissioner asked, "Can we find out whether it could be less bright?" The presenter said signs would be run on a timer tied to business hours and committed to turning lights off at closing; Kornblau said a dimmer might not be standard but that lights would be turned off when the store closes.

Commission discussion also touched on hours of operation presented by the applicant: the store would close at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday. Commissioners requested staff follow-up to confirm timer settings and, if necessary, mitigation measures to reduce nighttime glare for adjacent residents.

After the exchange, the commission made and recorded a motion to approve the application; the transcript records the motion as passing. Staff noted a follow-up task to confirm illumination controls and timer settings as part of implementation oversight.