Aquebogue cannabis grower seeks expansion on preserved farmland

Island Grow, the cannabis cultivator operating at 1017 Main Road in Aquebogue, is pursuing local approvals to expand indoor, climate-controlled cultivation by adding two steel buildings on a parcel of Suffolk County preserved farmland. The proposal, which affects land under agricultural protection, is now moving through Riverhead Town planning channels after a recent pre-submission meeting with town planning staff and consultants on January 6, 2026.

The Suffolk County Farmland Committee granted a conditional approval for the project in March 2025, but that endorsement was explicitly tied to sign-offs from the Town of Riverhead and the state Office of Cannabis Management. Those remaining reviews now shape the timetable and the scope of public scrutiny. Until the town and the Office of Cannabis Management complete their respective processes, the project cannot proceed to construction or operation under the county’s preservation rules.

For residents of Aquebogue and surrounding Riverhead hamlets, the case highlights the tensions that can arise when agricultural preservation intersects with emerging licensed industries. County-preserved farmland carries long-term obligations intended to protect working landscapes; adding climate-controlled cannabis cultivation facilities on such parcels raises questions about land use compatibility, neighborhood character, infrastructure demands, and the oversight roles of multiple agencies. Local review will address permitting details such as site layout, access, and any town-level conditions tied to the Farmland Committee’s conditional approval.

The pre-submission meeting on January 6 served as an early administrative step for Island Grow to identify required permits and procedural milestones with Riverhead planning staff and outside consultants. That meeting does not substitute for formal submissions or public hearings, and the project remains subject to standard town planning approvals and any state-level determinations by the Office of Cannabis Management. Those processes typically include opportunities for public comment and hearings, offering neighbors and stakeholders a formal venue to raise concerns or support.

The outcome will set a local precedent for how preserved agricultural land can be used for licensed cannabis production in Suffolk County and contribute to broader conversations about economic opportunity, farmland preservation, and municipal control. For locals, practical impacts could include changes in traffic patterns near Main Road, shifts in the agricultural employment base, and visual or operational differences on a property once used under more traditional farming uses.

Our two cents? Keep an eye on Riverhead planning board agendas, sign up for town notifications, and attend the public hearings when they are scheduled. If you care about how preserved farmland is used where you live, now is the time to ask questions and make your voice heard.