SOMERS POINT — The city’s cannabis ordinance apparently will die a slow death when it expires at the end of the year, but it was clear from comments Aug. 24 that the issue was, in fact, dead.
“As president of council, I have no intention of putting this back on the agenda,” Council President Janice Johnston said.
The Somers Point Planning Board voted 5-2 on Aug. 16 against ordinance 19-2023 being consistent with the master plan, sending it back to City Council with recommendations for changes.
City Council voted 5-2 on July 27 to introduce the ordinance, which would allow for a cannabis retailer and distributor to open in the city and designate where they could operate and other details.
On Aug. 24, solicitor Tom Smith reported the Planning Board’s findings from a memorandum dated Aug. 17.
He said the board recommends City Council make the following amendments to the ordinance:
— Cannabis sales not feasible for Route 9 between Groveland and Pennsylvania avenues. This area should be deleted from the proposed sales area.
— A traffic impact study should be conducted to see how the retail location will potentially impact traffic.
— Parking requirements should be reviewed to ensure that a sufficient minimum parking space requirement is included.
— Consider limiting cannabis businesses to outer area of the city to avoid traffic congestion.
He said those issues are “something you could follow up should council wish to proceed.”
“I agree that we cannot move forward with this. Just the fact that with the Planning Board’s opinion and also the other information that has come to light in the past month — all of our professionals and organizations have stepped forward and given us a lot of input. I agree that we cannot move forward with this,” Johnston said, evoking a round of applause from the audience.
Councilman Sean McGuigan, who has been a steadfast opponent, asked about the procedure to “kill this off.”
Smith said there are several ways council could go about it, such as waiting for the ordinance to expire Dec. 31, holding a second reading and not moving to vote, doing so and voting against it or tabling it.
He said procedurally, however, if nothing is done it could be brought to a vote any time before the end of the year.
“The paragraph that says it’s not consistent with the master plan — how can we even move forward with it based on that?” Johnston said.
“I believe it would be reckless to pass this,” Smith said.
Councilman Howard Dill said if the matter were brought up again after election day and approved, it would be based on politics rather than the opinion of the professionals and public.
“I hope this council does not bring it back and this would be the final nail in the coffin and let this ordinance go and be done with it,” he said. “Too may organizations are opposed to this.”
Councilman Rich DePamphilis, chair of the Cannabis Committee, agreed the matter should be dropped.
“The Cannabis Committee has worked on this for some time and now it seems like it was in vain. If the residents don’t want it, I don’t want it, so it’s a dead issue as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
Shore Road improvements
Mayor Jack Glasser reported that the city has received a $861,000 Safe Streets to Transit grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for pedestrian improvements to Shore Road.
“That’s a lot of change,” Glasser said.
He said a letter from the DOT state the agency is committed to promoting safe streets to transits, noting the program uses Transportation Trust Fund money to improve safety and accessibility for mass transit riders in the vicinity of transit facilities without burdening local property taxpayers.
Glasser said a public presentation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at City Hall, noting local and county officials would be present to discuss the plan and accept input.
“This should provide the public with an opportunity to meet with city and county leadership and professionals regarding the project and the use of funds for pedestrian improvements,” he said. “That’s a lot of money the city won’t have to dish out that we are getting from the state.”
Engineer Greg Schneider said the meeting would be informal.
“We’re looking for input from the public on how to spend the grant money. The money has to be spent along Shore Road,” he said.
The presentation will include maps of the project area and details about planned improvements, as well as comment cards for the public to fill out.
“People can circle areas that they have concerns about and talk with officials from the county or myself,” Schneider said.
Johnston said Schneider and the county have been working on the project for several months.
“I think there are a lot of really good ideas on the plan that we have right now but we are open to any other suggestions, and this would be the time to make those suggestion. It will be a mass improvement to Shore Road,” she said.
Good Old Days Festival Sept. 9
The Good Old Days Festival, an annual goodbye to summer, is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 9 at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. The event will include live bands, classic cars, vendors, community groups, carnival games, a dunk tank, inflatables, a magician and karate and police dog demonstrations. Food and drink available will include hamburgers and hot dogs, a beer garden and a wine-tasting station.
In addition, the Somers Point Arts Commission had to cancel its Art in the Park celebration this summer and will be presenting that during the festival.
Free shuttle service will be available from Dawes Avenue School, Fire House No.1 on Bethel Road, Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar on Shore Road and the Jordan Road School.
For more information, visit spgoodolddays.com or contact City Councilman Sean McGuigan, chairman of the festival organizing committee, at seantmcg@comcast.net or (609) 402-5062.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff