COURT HOUSE – Middle Township is moving to clarify its rules on where a licensed cannabis establishment may be located.
Under an ordinance amendment introduced by the Township Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 17, a cannabis business is prohibited from operating within 1,000 feet, as measured from main front door entrance to main front door entrance, of schools, child-care centers, places of worship and addiction recovery facilities.
The township’s special counsel, James Maley, explained that the clarification removes doubts about whether the 1,000 feet could be measured from side setbacks or some other area on the property. He said this amendment was intended to do no more than that.
The ordinance amendment will come up for a public hearing and potential vote at the Township Committee meeting Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m.
The township has been responsive to the potential for cannabis retail establishments within its borders. Recently the governing body raised the number of such establishments it would support for a state license from one to two such stores.
The township has also been open to a cultivation and manufacturing facility. The municipal tax that could be levied on cannabis cultivation and/or retail sales would be a welcome new revenue source, officials have said.
So far the township has supported only the Massachusetts-based company INSA for a retail license. Other applicants seeking township support have thus far been unable to secure the required municipal approval.
Previously, INSA indicated a desire to locate a retail cannabis business in the Rio Grande business district on Route 9. The Planning Board will now be considering an application from INSA for a Court House location near the intersection of Avalon Boulevard and Route 9 north.
The board will take up INSA’s application for a change of use of a Court House property that would allow the operation of a Class 5 retail dispensary on Thursday, Jan. 25.
INSA has not yet gained license approval from the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
