By THANE GRAUEL
The Pound Ridge Town Board on Tuesday passed a zoning regulation that will make it very difficult for any future cannabis dispensaries to open in its Scotts Corners business district any time soon.
The town board also voted to approve rules for an upcoming vote on the possible creation of a water district in Scotts Corners.
The cannabis regulation restricts a new dispensary’s opening within 500 feet of public or private school grounds, within 500 feet of a public youth facility, or within 200 feet of a house of worship.
Also, it states cannabis dispensaries and consumption sites “shall not be located within a 2,000-foot-radius of another cannabis dispensary or consumption site.”
Purple Plains is located at 32 Westchester Ave., and those rules would likely make it the only permitted dispensary, as long as it’s in business.
John McCown told the board during a public comment portion of the meeting that he wanted to once again reiterate that the hours for cannabis dispensary operations be limited to 8 p.m.
“That’s when The Market closes, that’s when the wine store closes, and the wine store that was previously there, also Purple Plains,” he said. “So, I don’t think we’re discriminating against them, I just don’t think that we should be encouraging people to get cannabis late on a Friday or Saturday night.”
“After multiple months and public comment and everything else, I think we are ready to have a resolution,” Town Supervisor Kevin Hansan said.
“It does seem rather late to me, to be running a business of that nature in Scotts Corners,” board member Dan Paschkes said. “This is something I would have preferred to have brought up at the last meeting,” Hansan said.
“I have no problem changing it to 10 p.m., to bring it back down from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or any time period within there.”
“My personal preference would be 9 p.m.,” Paschkes said. “I think 11 is too late,” said member Diane Briggs. “I think 9 is a good compromise.” “I’m comfortable with 10 since we’ve given it to the gas station, which, if you’ve ever looked behind the counter they sell every smoking item ...” board member Allison Boak said.
“Yeah, but if somebody’s running out of gas and they need it late at night so their tank isn’t empty, there’s more of an urgency,” Paschkes said. “It’s the only gas station in town.”
“The store is also open, and the restaurants are open.” Boak replied. “I just think we should have a standard for everyone.”
Hansan asked members if 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. worked for them and there was general agreement. The measure was passed unanimously.
Some critics of the town’s handling of the local cannabis policy have characterized the zoning regulation as a half-measure that would have been unnecessary if the town board had pursued the option to ban dispensaries in a transparent and timely manner in 2021.
Water District vote rules adopted
The town board also unanimously approved the rules governing the Oct. 24 special election on the possible creation of a water district in Scotts Corners.
The area’s groundwater has been contaminated by fuel and chemicals from a gas station, a cleaner, and spills and leaking underground tanks over the decades. In addition to gasoline and additives, the “forever chemicals” perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid, PFAS, have been found.
The water district would be formed to solve the problem of providing safe drinking water to the 39 or so affected residential and commercial properties.
The special election will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Town House, located at 179 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge.
There had been questions about which property owners would be able to cast votes, or how many votes. After input from lawyers, the town board approved the following rules:
1. The special election for the proposed formation of the Scotts Corners Water District in the Town of Pound Ridge shall occur Oct. 24, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town House, 179 Westchester Ave.
2. All owners of taxable real property located within the proposed water district are entitled to vote in this election.
3. Every joint tenant, tenant in common, or other person with a direct ownership of taxable real property located within the proposed water district may vote. In other words, each person who owns the fee to real property as a joint tenant, tenant in common, or tenant by the entirety has an ownership in the property that entitles said person to vote. For example, where a married couple owns a property jointly, both persons are entitled to one vote each.
4. A corporation (including a not-for-profit corporation), limited liability company, or partnership owning taxable real property that is titled in the name of the corporation, limited liability company, or partnership and that is located within the proposed water district is entitled to one vote. The person voting on behalf of the entity must present a copy of a resolution authorizing said person to vote on behalf of the entity.
5. A trust owning taxable real property that is titled in the name of the trust and that is located within the proposed water district is entitled to one vote. The person voting on behalf of the entity must present a copy of the trust agreement naming said person as trustee or documentation authorizing the person to vote on behalf of the trust.
6. Where the owner listed on the deed has passed away or where a property is listed as being owned by an estate, an estate representative may vote. The representative of the estate must present written proof of representative capacity.
7. Each landowner is entitled to one vote only, regardless of the number of properties owned by said landowner.
8. All persons voting must present government-issued photo identification.
9. At the close of the election, the votes shall be tallied on the day of the election.