During Tuesday’s town council meeting, council members and residents discussed a cannabis ordinance amendment which states that cannabis operations need to be 200 feet (increased from 100 feet) from schools, daycare facilities, preschools and places of worship. It will also cap the number of micro businesses that West Orange allows.
The amendment says that companies need to submit their applications to the Board of Education, the Zoning Department, the Township Fire Chief and the Special Improvement District (if the business will be located there). According to the amendment, every owner and their addresses must be disclosed, and any change of ownership must be reported to the township.
Council members supported “grandfathering” the prior regulations to the cannabis companies that already received letters of recommendation from the township. Council members considered tabling the ordinance, but members voted not to because cannabis businesses will be opening soon, so two weeks until the next meeting is a long time to delay the vote.
The attorney of The Library of NJ, Inc, one of the businesses that received a recommendation letter from West Orange, spoke of the amendment not grandfathering the cannabis companies. Kenneth McPherson advised, “The goal that Councilman Rutherford and the council has been discussing as an intent as to grandfathering is a worthy goal. The way the words in the amended ordinance as it's currently written offers no clarity to applicants about grandfathering.” He continued, “[As written, approved businesses would] have to get Planning Board approval.”