The Ellenville planning board took up the application for a cannabis dispensary on South Main Street (Route 209) with a view to final approval. The only issues left to discuss were insurance, the hours of operation, and a final review of security at the store.

Ellenville Cannabis will replace the coffee shop in the Ellenville Town Plaza strip mall, next to the wine and liquor store and Taco Bell, and near the detached Ellenville Beer & Soda.

The coffee shop will reopen in Liberty Square where Mimmy’s bakery used to be.

As in previous discussions of this application, board member Carlos Villegas expressed vehement disapproval of the idea of allowing a dispensary for “marijuana” in the village.

Newly elected board chair Joe Stoeckeler ran down the list of zoning requirements once again, to assure Villegas that it confirms to code. What would prevent such a business from being able to open would be the presence of a church or school within a 200-foot radius. The liquor store right next door and the beer outlet around the corner must abide by the same regulation. Both, of course, were approved. He concluded by explaining that this business will be in the actual “dispensary district” that was created by the Village Board of Trustees.

As before, the board was cautious in its approach, aware that it was dealing with a business that can be controversial until a few years ago was subject to legal prohibition.

Discussion of insurance lead to a request from the board for business liability insurance and a rider was attached that the cannabis business will cover any legal cost for the village incurred over any incident or infraction of the rules.

The hours of operation were reviewed. There must be 70 hours, and they will run Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The 13 percent tax revenue generated by the store will be split with New York State, which takes most of it, but leaves 4 percent to split with the county. Because the town of Wawarsing board voted to opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries in the town, the town will not share in the tax revenues. The village will therefore retain 3 percent of the tax raised from sales.

Following a question from Carlos Villegas, the security precautions were reviewed once again. There will be a guard at the door to check IDs. ID will also be needed inside the store to buy products. The windows of cannabis dispensaries in New York are required to be opaque out and no cannabis is to be displayed. Inside the store, the cannabis must be in sealed mylar packs.

According to the applicant, there will be no odor. A video record of the dispensary will be shared with New York State government.

To reassure Mr. Villegas and the other board members, former board chair Mark Steinhoff reminded everyone that the planning board does not rule on laws. Cannabis was made legal in New York with the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act of 2021. The role of the planning board is simply to ensure that applications conform to the village zoning.

The board voted to approve a special use permit as required under the law for the application. Ellenville Cannabis is now free to open and operate legally in the village. No opening date has been announced.