Local Governments Seeking"A PIECE OF THE ACTION"
Sunday, June 18, 2023
*UPDATED with new information
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews Editor
TRENTON, NJ (June 19, 2023)(CNBNews)--In 2021, New Jersey legalized the use and sale of marijuana. Since then, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, 24 dispensaries have sold recreational cannabis in the state, and 13 shops sell only medical marijuana. The use of medical marijuana was approved in 2010.
That legalization has also seen a rush by local governments throughout the state bending over backward to attract "Doobie Stores' to open in their communities. For example, the City of Gloucester City passed legislation in January to amend its Land Development law to accommodate the marijuana industry. Now the development of the Southport area, which consists of over 100 acres of vacant land along the Delaware River, will be used to cultivate, manufacture, and distribute marijuana. The new ordinance allows cannabis businesses to operate with Class 1, 2,3,4,5, and 6 licenses (Cultivation, Manufacturing, Wholesale, Distribution, Retail, and Delivery.
For 37 years, the City pushed an idea to develop that once-industrial site as the home for upscale housing, a waterfront marina, and a venue for retail stores. The City spent thousands of dollars on architectural, engineering, and development plans. In 2005 the site was named "THE GLOUCESTER VISTA." Shortly after, a new Democrat mayor, William James, and the council were elected and announced the area was so toxic it would take over a decade to remove those chemicals.
Hanging over the City's deal with any marijuana business is a $10.5 lawsuit filed against Gloucester City in 2021 by Rocco D'Antonio, CEO of Organic Waste, Marlton. In 2010 he was given the go-ahead to build a $30 million compost recycling plant near the old GAF pier. Despite getting initial approval from the City, unforeseeable circumstances led to the agreement falling apart. The case is currently in the deposition phase, and D'Antonio has expressed his readiness to take it to trial in October.
Wednesday, June 21, the Gloucester City Planning/Zoning Board will meet to decide on several different requests, including allowing marijuana to be sold from the former O'Donnells' Family restaurant/bar at 401 North Broadway. The applicant, *Blue CRE Gloucester City LLC, seeks preliminary and final primary site plan approval and conditional use approval to convert the existing improvements into a licensed Class 5 retail cannabis dispensary.
CNBNews file photo
For those new to Gloucester City, the O'Donnells opened their doors in 1923 and sold it in 2009. The popular eatery was known for its Manhattan clam chowder, seafood, its rye bread baked at nearby Mosteig's Bakery, and ice cream cake. The small bar was usually crowded and was "tucked" away on the side of the building near Warren Street. Many customers would travel near and far to drink an O'Donnell Manhattan cocktail made with secret ingredients.
Since that time, the business changed hands numerous times. The building and the surrounding parking lot have been empty for two years.
Officials in neighboring Brooklawn are also excited about marijuana dispensaries coming to their town, which has been called unofficially "God's Little Acre." In December 2022, a company named INDIGO was approved to open a dispensary at 302 Crescent Blvd. Although the owners of that business said to look for their operation opening in early 2023, the property remains empty.
In February 2023, another High Life dispensary was supposed to be opening soon in the Brooklawn Shopping Center, also located on Crescent Blvd.
Just last month, residents near the abandoned Webers Drive-In, 310 Crescent Blvd., were notified that Albert Shapiro, the property owner, was requesting a letter of interpretation for limits of the wetland and transition area on the site from the state of NJ. According to the blog South Jersey Observer, Borough Clerk Ryan Giles said the owner wants to use the five acres property for a cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility.
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Recently, Dorothy Philbin, a CNBNews columnist and investigating reporter, penned a column that sums up the sudden rush by local governments to seek marijuana businesses to open in their town.
When it comes to the growing, processing, and sale of marijuana some towns are saying "Over here, we want it." Other towns are saying "not in my backyard." Unfortunately, there are some towns where the residents don't want the pot in their town but the city/borough leaders do. Pot is taxed, providing more money for our leaders to spend. Woodbury Heights is one of those towns.
The residents of Woodbury Heights were fighting tooth and nail to keep pot out of their community but their leaders were bound and determined to have it. The designated area was the former Nova Bank building on Route 45, just behind the Hollywood Diner. Renovations were just beginning. Unfortunately, overnight between Monday, June 5th, and Tuesday, June 6th, the building was destroyed by fire.(June 8, 2023 (CNBNews)