Riverhead Town officials voted Tuesday to remove a 1,000-foot buffer between recreational cannabis shops and residences in the town’s major commercial corridors.
The measure drew support from residents who said it was a fair approach to the emerging industry, though it generated criticism from aspiring dispensary owners who said at a hearing last month the rules are still too restrictive.
The proposal was approved in a 5-0 vote.
Under the new zoning, dispensaries will be allowed to sit closer than 1,000 feet from homes if the shops are on commercial corridors: Route 25A in Wading River, Middle Country Road in Calverton, Route 58 in Riverhead, Main Road in Aquebogue and Main Road in Jamesport.
One dispensary is allowed in each corridor except for Route 58, where as many as seven could open if spaced 2,500 feet apart.
The change increases the number of eligible shops from five to 144, DeputyTown Attorney Annemarie Prudenti said.
She said the zoning will allow dispensaries to “roll out in a responsible, slow manner” that will help the town assess impacts like increased traffic.
Entrepreneurs with conditional state licenses to open dispensaries said finding locations remains challenging due to uncooperative landlords and existing town zoning.
Dispensaries must also be 1,000 feet from schools and libraries