TEANECK — The township’s Planning Board unanimously approved an application to open a retail micro-cannabis retail and cultivation operation in the light industrial zone.
Planner David Novak completed three hearings of testimony for the application by Nutra Leaf LLC retailers and T-Verde LLC cultivation to open a joint facility at 455 Alfred Ave.
Members repeatedly cited a township Council decision to approve cannabis operations as a conditional use in the light industrial zone as the guiding factor in approving the operation.
“Based on the mandate we’ve been given by council and what’s in our purview, I would absolutely support it,” said Board Chairman Howard Thompson on Thursday.
Thompson said he thought assigning cannabis operations to a light industrial zone near a residential neighborhood comprised predominantly of Black residents was “bias in a lot of ways,” and that such operations were better located in a business district such as Cedar Lane.
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“I believe there is substantial reason that this application should be approved,” Thompson said. “I just think it shouldn’t be on Alfred Avenue because there’s a racial component behind that.”
Residents continued to object to the project because of traffic, distance from Englewood’s Denning Park, and the absence of federal approval for cannabis operations, regardless of New Jersey legalizing recreational marijuana following a 2020 referendum.
However, board member Yehuda Kohn cited recently adopted legislation that changed the definition of controlled dangerous substances in the Comprehensive Drug Reform Act to preclude legalized marijuana.
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“This change means that a licensed and authorized cannabis facility may operate within the 1,000-foot drug-free zone,” Kohn said. “I think this is outside our purview.”
Attorney Jason Tuvel did not discuss steps that remain to be taken before the business may open.
It would be the second cannabis business to open in Teaneck. “Care By Dank’s” cannabis store opened at 1199 Teaneck Road two weeks ago, according to an employee on Friday.
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