LAKEHURST – It was an emotional night for both Borough officials and residents during a recent council meeting that brought cannabis manufacturing to Union Avenue, and also noted the possibility of moving Borough Hall off Union Avenue.
Residents Karen McPartlin, Robin Busch, Kathy Abrahemsen, and Casey and Patrick McPartlin came up to the microphone during the meeting to voice opposition to the ordinance that would bring cannabis manufacturing in. The mayor and council had said previously that it would bring new ratables to the community.
Councilman Jeffrey Emmons was absent at this meeting but the council voted unanimously in favor of Ordinance 2025-13 that Councilman Brian DiMeo explained to the public.
“We aren’t talking about a spot or a particular business, we are talking about a zone, anywhere in B1. We talking about modifying an ordinance that is on the record books right now that restricted cannabis manufacturing to lite industrial only,” DiMeo said.
“Based off of circumstance there has been a discussion among those on the Cannabis Committee and the Ordinance Committee that we look at other zones where that type of facility could be positioned,” the councilman added.
He further explained, “the decision was made that there is opportunity in B1 where manufacturing could potentially go. We aren’t talking about any particular property or business in the zone we are talking about the B1 zone has spaces that are adequate to house that type of facility and we should modify the ordinance to allow those types of businesses to potentially petition to move into that zone. There is no business locked in right now nor any particular property that is guaranteed right now.”
Heather Cramer owns Colonial Bouquet on Union Avenue. She spoke several times expressing her displeasure over the ordinance. “We oppose the changing of the ordinance for any business – be it manufacturing or anything that does not bring people into our down town.”
She added, “personally, professionally, publicly, we are all living the same issues and I don’t think any drastic changes for some immediate financial remedies is going to benefit this town at all. I really think more consideration should be taken into changing the ordinance there. I think this may open you up to litigation if another kind of business wants to come in.”
Borough Attorney Ian Goldman explained “right now cannabis is the only one restricted. The area can be used for any manufacturing currently other than cannabis. Cannabis is exclusively restricted.”
Council President Steven Oglesby said the ordinance does not exclude the option for a site to become retail on Union Avenue. “It can still be sold as a retail store.” He would later ask the public, “how many years should those (Union Avenue) buildings sit empty?”
“I think there are a lot of other options in town that could be looked at further,” Cramer said.
Not everyone was opposed to the ordinance. Resident Bruce Margeson remarked, “We had a bakery and it went out (of business); donut place they went out; we had a deli it went out. The people that own those buildings let them fall apart. We have plywood in the windows. It looks like a ghetto. Why would anyone want to do business in Lakehurst?”
“We have to do something to raise money in this town. Those who own those buildings have done nothing to draw people in,” Margeson said adding that two popular Union Avenue businesses “are struggling.”
Councilwoman Patricia Hodges reported that she and Councilman Emmons had met with the borough’s financial officer in regards to “what we can do with the borough’s current financial crisis. We put a lot of things on the table. The borough owns several properties.”
One of those properties is the ESC (Emergency Service Complex) building on Proving Ground Road which has vacant space. “We really feel that it would be in the best interests of everyone to move the operations of borough hall and to make the ESC the hub for services for Lakehurst. It is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant,” Hodges added.
“It just makes perfect sense. That building really should be full. This move is something we want to accomplish hopefully by the end of the year so the employees are in place,” Hodges said.
Council President Oglesby advised Mayor Harry Robbins, “before we go too deeply into that process a good portion of that building was funded with the contingency that it serves as a police and backup operations center should there be an issue. I want to make sure we don’t jeopardize anything as I know when we had work done at the community center here it was with CDBG (Community Development Building Grant funds from the State).”
Councilwoman Hodges added any regulatory stipulations would be taken into account. “Where we are right now, we are okay with that. While it will be organized physically differently, that will not change.”
Robbins likened the transition to creating a Borough complex.
Cramer commented, “I now have concerns about what the council’s vision is for downtown Lakehurst in the future now that there is talk of moving town hall. I know there are financial things going on but we are all in it together.”
Other residents expressed sadness and frustration over seeing Borough Hall leave Union Avenue. Margeson said, “town hall belongs downtown. It is almost historical. It doesn’t even sound good.”
The move to the new location would involve some Borough staff. Borough council meetings would remain at the Lakehurst Community Center.
This year’s Citizen of the Year will be announced during the Council’s December 4, meeting. This year’s Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on December 12 at 7 p.m.
