CB 7 Review of UWS Legal Cannabis Dispensary Applications Moved to October 25

St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Photo credit: Steven Kelley.

By Bobby Panza

UPDATE: Community Board 7 will not hear any legal cannabis dispensary applications during its Business & Consumer Issues meeting tonight, Wednesday, October 11. Instead, CB 7 will hold a special meeting of the Business & Consumer Issues Committee on Wednesday, October 25, at 6:30 p.m., to hear all cannabis applications. Currently, there are 21 applications that are being vetted. Addresses of approved applications will be disclosed on October 25. CB 7’s committee agenda page will provide the Zoom meeting link once it is available.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Upper West Side could soon be getting its own legal supply of marijuana. Two applications for legal cannabis dispensaries have been filed in the district, according to Max Vandervliet, Community Board 7 district manager. Vandervliet made the announcement at CB7’s October full-board meeting, held in person Tuesday night at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church on West 86th Street. Members who couldn’t attend in person “for cause” joined the meeting by Zoom.

“I know this is something that many of you have a strong interest in,” noted Vandervliet who pointed out that there could “potentially [be] two more” dispensary applications coming, bringing the total to four. The proposed addresses for the two known cannabis locations are 2465 Broadway, between West 91st and West 92nd Streets, and 2601 Broadway, at West 98th Street.

The applications will be discussed in detail at the next Business & Consumer Issues Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 11. To sign up for the Zoom link to this meeting, click here.

Officer elections were also on the agendaTuesday night. Compared to last year’s election, which saw a board member use their allotted time to drop a diatribe on a candidate running for Board Chair, elections in 2023 ran a lot more smoothly — not surprising, since all the candidate ran unopposed. One new member joined the ranks of the officers.

Here is the complete roster of officers elected last night:

Board Chair: Beverly Donohue
Vice Chair: Doug Kleiman
Treasurer: Seema Reddy
Co-Secretary: Barbara Adler
Co-Secretary: Alex Bell (New member)

Strategy & Budget Committee Co-Chair Roberta Semer identified the top three pressing issues for CB7 in fiscal year 2025, which are: affordable housing, food insecurity, and education for students K-12.

“Over 25% of the residents on the Upper West Side are food insecure,” said Semer, “which means they might have a decent meal today, but they don’t know if they’re going to eat tomorrow.” Semer also pointed out that some schools are not performing up to capacity, and that the increasing migrant population is being placed in public schools without appropriate resources. The resolution on capital budget priorities for 2025 passed resoundingly.

CB7 closed the night by approving changes within Central Park in an “advisory not dispositive capacity,” Board Chair Beverly Donohue explained. Le Pain Quotidien (LPQ) got the green light from the board to renovate their outdoor seating area with a five-pergola system, which will let the business run year-round. The space will utilize a wooden motorized louver that will let it remain open during good weather, but allow it to close when it is inclement and at night. Ceiling-mounted heaters and fans will also be installed. The seating capacity will remain at 60. LPQ is paying for the renovations and more are expected, said Parks & Environment Committee Co-chair Natasha Kazmi. The board voted 25 in favor of the alterations, with five opposed and four abstaining. After all community boards abutting Central Park weigh in, the matter will move onto the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for final resolution.

The renovations of two restrooms in Central Park were approved unanimously: the Delacorte Theater restroom at West 81st Street, and the Great Hill restroom around West 106th Street. The exteriors of both facilities will remain consistent with their historical design, while accessibility is improved inside with ramps and handrails. Renovations at the Delacorte restroom will take a year, which is expected to coincide with the renovation of the Delacorte Theater. The Great Hill renovation will feature windows with white frosting to match its historic design. Upon completion, that previously seasonal restroom will be open year-round. It will take nine months to complete, starting in spring, 2024. Again,the LPC is the final stop.

The next full Community Board 7 meeting is on November 6 at 6:30 p.m.

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