William E. Cleary Sr. | CLEARY’S NOTEBOOK NEWS
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (CNBNews)(June 2023)-In 2021 the state of New Jersey legalized the use and sale of marijuana. Since that time, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, there are 24 dispensaries that sell recreational cannabis in the state, along with 13 shops that sell only medical marijuana.
That legalization has also seen a rush by local governments throughout the state bending over backwards to attract “Doobie Stores’ to open in their communities. For example, the City of Gloucester City passed legislation in January to amend it Land Development law in order to accommodate the marijuana industry. As such the development of the Southport area, which consist of over 100 acres of vacant land along the Delaware River will now 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 promoted an idea to develop that once-industrial site into upscale housing, a waterfront marina, and a retail district. The city spent thousands of dollars on architects, engineers, and development plans for that purpose. In 2005, the site was named “THE GLOUCESTER VISTA.” Shortly after, a new Democrat mayor, William James, and the city council were elected, announcing that the area was so toxic it would take over a decade to remove the chemicals.
Hanging over the city’s deal with any marijuana business is a $10.5 million 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.
On Wednesday, June 21, the Gloucester City Planning/Zoning Board will meet to decide on a number of different requests, one of which is allowing marijuana to be sold from the former O’Donnells’ Family restaurant/bar at 401 North Broadway.
For those who are new to Gloucester City, the O’Donnells opened their doors in 1923 and sold it in 2009. The popular eatery was known for its Manhattans, clam chowder, seafood, its rye bread baked at Mosteig’s Bakery, and its ice cream cake roll. The small bar, which was usually crowded, was “tucked” away on the side of the building near Warren Street. Many of those customers would travel near and far just to drink an O’Donnell Manhattan cocktail, which was made with secret ingredients.
Since that time, the business has changed hands numerous times. The building and the surrounding parking lot has 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, INDIGO received approval to open a dispensary at 302 Crescent Blvd. Although the owners of that business said their operation would open in early 2023, the property remains empty.
In February 2023 another dispensary, named High Life, 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 given notice that Albert Shapiro
, the owner of the property, was requesting a letter of interpretation for the 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-acre property for a cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility.
Recently, Dorothy Philbin, a CNBNews columnist and investigative 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 completely destroyed by fire. (June 8, 2023 CNBNews)