LAKEHURST – This small municipality already hosts two cannabis businesses, but the Borough Council is considering allowing a manufacturing facility across from town hall.
Resident Andrew Decher expressed his concern to The Manchester Times about Ordinance #2025-13 that will have its second reading during the council’s November 6 meeting.
“I believe our community deserves to be more informed before such a major decision is made. If passed, this ordinance would allow a marijuana manufacturing and distribution facility to operate in Lakehurst’s B-1 Downtown Zone,” Decher added.
Decher said this would include property of the former hardware store on Union Avenue. “Many of us feel strongly that while cannabis businesses may have a place in town, an industrial-type facility does not belong in the heart of our downtown – a space meant for shops, restaurants, and businesses that directly serve residents.”
The resident started a petition that he said, “has already been gaining momentum at https://chng.it/wXwWbryGrQ.”
He added that he wanted borough residents to be aware “of what’s at stake and have the chance to make their voices heard.”
The Borough currently has two retail businesses that are open and a third retail that is proposed next to Jim’s Auto Sales. This third one must go before the Land Use Board for Site Plan approval in hopes of being ready for the October 27 land use board meeting.
Ordinance 2025-13 would allow manufacturing in the B-1 Downtown zone, according to officials. The original cannabis ordinance allowed manufacturing only in the light industrial zone, but due to the cost of the cleanup in that zone, the business decided against it.
They are interested in purchasing the old hardware store which happens to be in the B-1 Zone, which is the reason for the amending of the cannabis ordinance.
