During its Monday, March 13, meeting, the Livingston Township Council was presentedfindings from the ad-hoc Livingston Cannabis Subcommittee, about what classes of cannabis business to approve in town. In November 2020, a referendum passed in New Jersey approving the legalization of cannabis by a two to one vote.
There are six types of classes of cannabis business: cultivator, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, retailer and delivery. Municipalities may approve which classes it permits, how many licenses, where they may operate, and hours of operation, among other options. Towns may also collect up to two percent in sales tax.
The subcommittee reviewed all classes but retail for the report. They examined the Zoning map and looked at potential suitable locations, among other items. Also included were broadfinancial figures, including that micro businesses generate on average five to ten million dollars in gross revenue per year, while larger businesses can generate up to five times that amount.
Given the research, the subcommittee recommended three zoning districts for potential cannabis businesses. They are the Research Laboratory District, which is located south of the Livingston Mall (for this one, a new subdistrict would need to be created to keep the business away from residential areas, due to a development that is expected to be built in the area); Commercial Industrial District, which is located along Route 10 near the East Hanover border, encompassing streets including Okner Parkway and Industrial Parkway; and the Limited Industrial District, which is located behind Industrial Parkway. All of these districts have easy access to highways with minimal impacts on residents, according to the committee.
If the Council accepts the recommendations made by the subcommittee, the next steps are filling in the additional details (permitted locations, number of licenses, etc.) and then drafting an ordinance. The Council plans to discuss the report before taking additional steps.
The full report will be made available on the township website.
Mayor Michael Vieira said he was disappointed that retail was not included in the report, though he understood that the committee was just following the directive they received. He noted that he has not heard of any negative consequences from towns who have permitted retail cannabis business and asked the committee to next study that class of business, as well as medical cannabis.
Vieira was the sole vote in favor of permitting all cannabis businesses in town when the initial ordinance banning them was passed in 2021. He noted that when the majority of Livingston voters asked for cannabis businesses to be permitted, they were asking for a retail dispensary.
“Whether or not the vote is still four to one, I would like to see a retail and medical report created,” Vieira said, suggesting the Livingston Mall as a potential location for businesses.
Council member Rosy Bagolie, who was not on the Council during the initial cannabis vote, said she was “blindsided” that retail was not included in the report, considering that the majority of Livingston voters had asked for it. She said that she would vote in favor of approving retail when running for election last year. “I feel we have missed out on leading on this issue,” Bagolie said.
Several residents echoed Vieira’s and Bagolie’s sentiments, asking for the Council to approve retail cannabis business, as Livingston’s voters elected to do in November of 2020.
