Cannabis Zoning: Haddon Planning Board To Offer Recommendations

HADDON, NJ — Haddon's planning board will meet Thursday to decide which zoning districts cannabis businesses would be able to operate within the township.

The Haddon Township Board of Commissioners asked the planning board earlier this year to review the municipality's 12 zoned districts to see which were suitable for cannabis businesses.

The planning board asked Township Engineer Gregory Fusco to look at the municipality's zoned districts and offer suggestions that the planning board could consider to recommend to commissioners.

The planning board will take into consideration Fusco's findings, as well as comments made at the board's May 5 meeting, when coming up with a recommendation Thursday for the Board of Commissioners.

The planning board's recommendations won't be binding on the commissioners, planning board Solicitor Lou Garty said at the meeting on May 5.

Ultimately, it's up to the commissioners to decide the zoning districts where cannabis companies can conduct business within Haddon Township's borders.

One of the zones the planning board may consider is called C3, covering commercial property the township owns along the Black Horse Pike/state Route 168, Fusco told planning board members at the May 5 meeting. Sites in the location would meet the state's minimum requirements for the square footage of a commercial cannabis site, he said.

Another potential zone is LI, for light industrial property near U.S. Route 130/Crescent Boulevard that has ample room for cannabis businesses, whether wholesale, cultivation, manufacturing or retail, Fusco said.

"There are a number of large sites along Route 130 that would be able to accommodate cannabis businesses," Fusco said. "LI ... also offers large buffers to residents," he added.

Other zones under consideration do not have enough space available, do not have ample parking or otherwise do not meet the state's requirements for cannabis businesses, he said.

Attendees of the May 5 meeting attendees were split on whether or not cannabis businesses belong in Haddon at all.

Township resident Mary Coyle encouraged the planning board not to make any recommendations to commissioners.

"There are already at least six restaurants serving alcohol on Haddon Avenue, plus numerous events with alcohol on the square," she said. "We already have concerns about pedestrian safety throughout the neighborhood. A cannabis retail store would give parents more things to
worry about, including that someone might be driving impaired or providing more direct access of cannabis to our kids."

Another member of the public, Manuel Jose of Washington Township, said he smoked cannabis regularly, felt allowing cannabis companies into the township would provide a teaching moment regarding the substance.

"I love the entrepreneur spirit of what's going on here in New Jersey" regarding cannabis, he said. "It doesn't have to be gloom and doom. It could be something that is a lot more beautiful and a lot more educational."

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