Pine Plains Planning Board holds first cannabis public hearing

Pine Plains Planning Board holds first cannabis public hearing

The proposed site of the Upstate Pines cannabis dispensary is the site of a historic weigh station where farmers would weigh their crops for sale.

Photo by Nathan Miller

PINE PLAINS — Planning Board members and residents gathered for the first round of public hearings concerning a proposed cannabis dispensary.

Upstate Pines, a Red Hook-based cannabis retailer owned by Brian Seiler and Ben Abrahams, is seeking to open a second store in the renovated weigh station building on South Main Street in Pine Plains.

Architect Kristina Dousharm of KDA detailed specific plans for the weigh station building — including six gravel parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible entrance on the south side of the building — and some suggestions for future uses for other buildings on the site including a grocery store.

Public comment on the business was mixed, but generally criticism centered around the location rather than the nature of the business itself.

Sarah Jones of Pine Plains spoke in opposition, saying that as a member of the town board she voted to approve the town’s cannabis law and cited the ordinances distance requirements. That law requires cannabis retailers be at least 300 feet from an “essential service.”

“It’s really disheartening to me that those restrictions would not be complied with on the first dispensary application to this board,” Jones said. “We thought they were necessary, we thought they were reasonable.”

Jones and other critics also focused on the historic significance of the site, cautioning that the building ought to be preserved.

Supporters of the project touted the fiscal benefits the dispensary would provide to the town, including Town Board member Kevin Walsh.

Walsh also praised the efforts of Upstate Pines in restoring the building. “A great amount of effort has gone into preserving that building,” Walsh said. “It’s in now currently a far better state than it was prior.”

Owner Brian Seiler spoke up in support of his proposed store, also promoting the tax revenue benefits to the town.

“What comes with a cannabis store is positivity,” Seiler said.

The Pine Plains Fire District and the Hose Company submitted identical letters to the board objecting to the proposed site. The letters cited community events where children play on the fire house property as their chief reason for opposing the project.

“There is a law in place for a reason about the distance away from such buildings and it is our stance that the law was made for this very reason,” the letter states. “At no time are we objecting to such business, we are objecting to the location that is being presented.”

Planning board members decided to hold open the public hearing for the dispensary until the following meeting on Oct. 8. Members expect to be able to issue a decision on the distance waivers at the next meeting, pending clarification from the fire department on potential compromises with the developers.

Latest News

County legislature candidates lay out their priorities

Contested seats in the Dutchess County Legislature are close to home this election season, with Districts 19 and 25 covering the rural towns across the northern and eastern corners of the county. Though the candidates bring distinct experiences and perspectives, they share common ground on some of the biggest challenges facing local communities, including emergency medical services and affordable housing.

Here’s a look at the candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less
Classifieds - October 23, 2025

Help Wanted

Weatogue Stables has an opening: for a full time team member. Experienced and reliable please! Must be available weekends. Housing a possibility for the right candidate. Contact Bobbi at 860-307-8531.

Services Offered

Hector Pacay Service: House Remodeling, Landscaping, Lawn mowing, Garden mulch, Painting, Gutters, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Tree work, Brush removal, Fence, Patio, Carpenter/decks, Masonry. Spring and Fall Cleanup. Commercial & Residential. Fully insured. 845-636-3212.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vincent Inconiglios brings ‘Face Time’ to Hunt Library
Artist Vincent Inconiglio’s show “Face Time” opens Oct. 25 at the Hunt Library.
L. Tomaino

Abstract artist Vincent Inconiglios' love and enthusiasm for color and form are evident all around him at his Falls Village studio, where he has worked for 25 years. He is surrounded by paintings large and small, woodcuts, photographs, collages and arrays of found objects.

The objects Inconiglios has found while out walking — in Falls Village, near his studio on Gansevoort Street in New York City, and in other places throughout the world — hold special importance to him. Appreciation of them, he says, comes from “seeing while exploring. I am always finding things.” His particular delight is finding objects that look like faces, many of which will be featured in the ArtWall show at the Hunt Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Thyme in Sheffield blends nature, wellness and community

The central communal space, featuring an A for Ara audio system, gong and Tibetan bowls, hosts up to 80 guests for sound meditations and healing music experiences.

Provided

The Thyme, on Route 41 in Sheffield, is a retreat center offering a variety of residential and non-residential programs and services to the local community and Berkshire‑area visitors. A new incarnation of what for many years was the Option Institute, The Thyme is the dream project of James Davies and Andrew Murray, business partners who left the pressures of international banking and moved with their families to this Berkshires campus in September 2024. They bought the 85‑acre property from Barry and Susan Kaufman for $5.35 million and, together with five other business partners, have been renovating the property’s many buildings ever since.

The center opened in January of this year and is a work in progress as the team continues to refine its offerings. Since opening, the venue has hosted events across 22 weekends, with most bookings for residential retreats with some spiritual element. Upcoming events include a women’s retreat (The Wild Rest), a family Halloween event called Curiouser, and a Thanksgiving weekend for those who have already visited the property. The year will culminate with a weekend retreat around the winter solstice facilitated by renowned astrologer Rebecca Gordon.

Keep ReadingShow less