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Retail cannabis operator seeks approval for scheduled pickup window and canopy; public hearing set March 30
Summary
The applicant presented a modification to an already‑approved retail cannabis facility at Five Custom Drive to add a staffed, appointment‑only pickup window beneath a 4x8 ft canopy (8‑ft clearance), with stacking for 12 cars, limits of six pickups per half hour, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. hours and security and lighting details to meet state requirements.
Joseph Hammer, the land‑use attorney for the applicant, told the Old Saybrook Architectural Review Board on March 23 that the modification under review concerns a product pickup window at the previously approved retail cannabis facility at Five Custom Drive; the request covers a permanent canopy, wayfinding signage and minor interior adjustments related only to the pickup operation.
Why it matters: A scheduled pickup window and drive‑through canopy change how customers access a regulated retail cannabis facility; the board sought details to ensure vehicular clearance, minimize queuing impacts and maintain security and night‑time lighting controls.
Architect Craig described the canopy as a fixed metal projection roughly 4 ft by 8 ft with a minimum vertical clearance of 8 ft; a covered staging area and internal pass‑through will allow staff to stage and hand products to customers without in‑window browsing. Craig said the stackable lane currently fits about 12 cars and that the canopy projection conforms to the town’s dimensional regulations.
Hammer said operations will be appointment‑only and limited for the pickup window; the team proposed scheduling six pickups every half hour and reiterated that customers will not be allowed to modify orders or browse at the window. The architects and attorney emphasized that state security requirements, camera coverage (including infrared/night capability) and monitoring would remain in place and that lighting under the canopy would include a small photometric adjustment but would not materially alter the existing site lighting plan.
Board members recommended placing a visible clearance sign on the canopy and urged the applicant to reflect the 8‑ft maximum clearance in online pre‑order instructions. Members suggested using internally illuminated, modest signage with letters about 8 inches high for distance readability and favored 3000K warm‑tone lighting to reduce glare at night. The applicant said these elements could be incorporated and noted the public hearing on the special exception/modification is scheduled for March 30.
Outcome and next steps: The applicant will appear at a public hearing on March 30 for the special exception/modification; the board provided recommendations on canopy clearance signage, online pre‑order notices and lighting color temperature to be included in revised materials and the final application package.
Provenance: Presentation and discussion begin at SEG 1236 (attorney introduction) and continue through SEG 1710 (applicant comments and public hearing scheduling).
