The question of whether a state-licensed cannabis dispensary belongs at the gateway to Croton's downtown dominated a lengthy Planning Board meeting on April 14, as residents packed Village Hall to voice opposition and the board ultimately concluded its hands were tied by state law. Acting Chairman Geoffrey Haynes opened the meeting by turning to Village Attorney Jeannette Koster to explain the board's limited authority. Koster told the audience that the Village did not opt out of New York's cannabis law for dispensaries, meaning the applicant is permitted to open the business as long as state distance requirements are met. She said the daycare center near the proposed site is not governed by the state Department of Education, so its proximity cannot be grounds for denial. "The Planning Board is limited to time, place and manner restrictions," Koster said, listing parking and trash disposal as subjects the board can consider. 5:14▶

A Data-Driven Defense

Attorney Micci Weiss, representing applicant Best Dispensary Near Me (doing business as Mindset Cannabis Shop), presented the proposal as a less intensive use than the existing convenience store at 370 South Riverside Avenue, a roughly 1,650-square-foot space. Weiss said the current shop sees approximately 250 customers a day who spend about ten minutes each. "The cannabis shop is anticipated to see about a 125 customers a day, half as many customers as the current use who will each spend an average of less than five minutes in the store," Weiss said, citing data from the applicant's Tarrytown location. 7:25▶ Vincent Silvestri, who will operate the Croton store seven days a week, said most transactions are quick. "Most people that do visit the store are an in and out. They they don't wanna hang out. They're regular. They know what they want. They've ordered it. Most people are just pre ordering, walking in and walking out," Silvestri said. 42:50▶ Weiss emphasized security measures including cameras inside and out, double ID checks, and prepackaged products. He said the shop would offer no curbside pickup or delivery. Describing the aesthetic, Weiss said: "We are not bringing, a neon sign smoke shop into your town. We are bringing a high end shop that's gonna function and look like an Apple store." 18:56▶ Architect Arlenis Dominguez walked the board through interior plans showing display areas, a product vault, four point-of-sale kiosks, and a dedicated pickup window.

Residents Raise Safety and Traffic Concerns

About a dozen residents spoke during a public comment period, with opposition focused on the site's proximity to Happy Hearts daycare and the Chapel playground, traffic at what several called the busiest intersection in the village, and the character of the community. Halil Odabas, who lives near the fire department, questioned how the dispensary would prevent customers from consuming products on nearby residential streets and whether the cost of additional police enforcement would exceed the revenue the Village receives. Brian Cook of Truesdale Drive raised concerns about the higher dollar value of cannabis products and the potential for criminality, and pointed to the Blaze festival at Croton Point Park as a draw for dispensary customers. Drew Maniglia of Hastings Avenue called the location "very ill suited" for a high-demand business, citing the intersection's role as a primary route to the train station. Susan Skrelja of Truesdale Drive argued that the Village Board should have opted out of cannabis retail entirely. Drew Gamils of Young Avenue challenged the site proximity protection, saying Happy Hearts offers universal public pre-K, which she argued is regulated by education law. Several residents also cited the dispensary's proximity to a music school and a place of worship. In support, Dan Calandro said he has visited dispensaries that are "nicer than doctor's offices" and believes the cannabis shop will generate less traffic than the existing convenience store. Riley Moeller, who owns the bike shop two doors down, said parents are responsible for teaching their children and noted that nearby businesses already sell alcohol and cigarettes.

Board Debates Operating Hours

The most substantive board discussion centered on operating hours. Steve Krisky urged limiting the shop to 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, citing liquor store hours as a benchmark and expressing concern about evening traffic. The applicant countered with 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, noting the state Office of Cannabis Management requires a minimum of 70 hours per week and that restricting hours would impact revenue. "With all due respect, you're putting an extra condition on for the specifically," Weiss said. "Restricting our hours is gonna impact our revenue. It is an incredibly large investment on the front end of time and money. And for us to get our hours cut because there's an because of a feeling." 114:18▶ Koster advised that any restriction on hours would need to be grounded in parking and traffic considerations rather than the nature of the business. The board ultimately settled on 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM, which Weiss accepted. 120:44▶

Conditions and Approval

The board approved the application 5-0 with conditions including: • Operating hours of 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM • Customer-only parking signs in front of the five designated store spaces • Restriping and proper marking of the parking lot, including the handicapped space • Employees parking off-site, with permits secured at the Benedict Boulevard lot and, if needed, the train station • A signage application to be submitted separately • A grand opening plan to be presented to the board • Coordination with the Croton Police Department, including offering camera access • Full state licensing as a condition of opening Eva Thaddeus noted she had contacted the Ossining Police Department, which has two recently opened dispensaries, and was told there has been no increase in crime. Haynes said he personally believes "there probably is a better location" but acknowledged the applicant's exhaustive search and the board's legal constraints. "The law is kinda what this board is held to," Haynes said. "Property owners have rights and businesses need to go and and it is a retail business."

Sign Law Referral Tabled

The board also reviewed a referral from the Board of Trustees on Local Law Introductory No. 7 of 2026, which would revise Village code provisions on posted signs. The proposed law collapses sign categories into commercial and non-commercial to avoid content-based regulation. Board members and consulting planner Bill Brady of Nelson Pope Voorhis agreed the draft needs significant revision, with requests for examples from other municipalities, clearer enforcement mechanisms, and more detailed definitions. The matter was tabled for further work. The board approved minutes from its March 24 meeting as amended.