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Town Board Approves New Zoning Law to More Tightly Regulate Medical Marijuana Dispensaries


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 December 21, 2018
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng, Vicki DiStefano and Matt Leonenko | (516) 869-7794

Town Board Approves New Zoning Law to More Tightly Regulate Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

North Hempstead, NY – At the December 18, 2018 Town Board meeting North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board approved a local law that will implement zoning regulations for medical marijuana facilities. The regulations will not hinder medical marijuana facilities from coming into the Town of North Hempstead, but will implement zoning regulations for medical marijuana facilities, prohibiting them from being within 1,000 feet of a school, parks, child care center or house of worship; restricting them from being within 500 feet of a Town residential district; and limiting the number of dispensaries in the Town to two.

The Five Year (2019-2024) Capital Plan was unanimously approved. The General Fund five-year Capital Plan includes $105 million of infrastructure investment. The Town will fund the 2019 expenditures with $19.7 million of additional long-term borrowing, after accounting for grants and existing funding.

The Board also approved a local law to prohibit road openings in Town roads that have been repaved within the preceding three years or constructed within the preceding five years, subject to certain exceptions. The proposed law will also help the Town coordinate road work with utility companies so as to effectuate repairs that involve opening up the Town’s streets.

A hearing date was set for January 29, 2019 for a local law regarding landscaping and the use of gas-powered landscaping equipment. The proposed law will require, among other things, for commercial landscapers to use electric or battery-operated equipment from September 16-June 14 and allows the use of gas-powered leaf blowers to only June 15-Sept.15 of the year.

The Town also approved the hiring of Leonard G. Kapsalis as the Town’s new Town Attorney. Kapsalis replaces Elizabeth Botwin who has now moved to the position of Counsel for the Supervisor, at a reduced schedule of 50%.

“I am pleased to propose a new Town Attorney with the background and qualifications of Len Kapsalis. Mr. Kapsalis is experienced in municipal law and personal injury law, which are major focuses of the office,” said Supervisor

In other business, the Board:

• Approved an agreement with Nassau County to plow the County’s portion of Plandome Road (about half a mile) during snow events for $250 per day.

• Set a date for a hearing on January 29, 2019 to establish time limitations and amend existing time limitations for the effectiveness of approvals given by the Town Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Department of Building Safety, Inspection and Enforcement for site plans, special use permits, conditional use permits, and variances, changes of zone and building permits.

• Adopted comprehensive amendments to the Town’s regulations regarding unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation; and implemented the State’s latest required sexual harassment prevention mandate.

• Approved a change of name of the Port Washington Senior Center to now be called the Port Washington Adult Activity Center.

The next Town Board Meeting is on January 8, 2019 at Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road in Manhasset.




  

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