Edison Expanded Cannabis Zone Defeated; Public Seeks More Input

EDISON, NJ — A standing-room only audience appeared at the Township Council meeting on Wednesday, with the majority urging officials to do two things: 1. Scrap a proposed ordinance expanding cannabis business zones, and 2. Include the public as "stakeholders" should similar changes be considered in the future.

And the public got most of what it asked for: The ordinance was unanimously defeated, despite earlier support from most of the council.

Plus, the public - from the school board president to residents - told the council that the public must have more of a say in a planned Cannabis Subcommittee the township is forming.

First, though, was a thwarted attempt to table the measure. Council President Nishith Patel asked for the motion to table, which was put forward and seconded.

That elicited shouts and chants from the audience of more than at least 150 demanding that the ordinance be heard while they were all there and mobilized to express their opinions. (You can see a video of the lengthy meeting here.)

The motion to table was voted on after about a half hour and was defeated, with even Patel voting against it.

When the time came to discuss the ordinance as presented on the agenda, council members first voiced their thoughts and then allowed the many members of the public to speak.

The sentiment of the public was, for the most part, opposed to any expansion of cannabis sale locations. (See this previous Patch article.)

An amended ordinance, 2211- 2024, was introduced at a previous meeting and would have allowed cannabis businesses to operate in the following areas:

• National Road from Talmadge Road to the cul-de-sac.
• Talmadge Road from New Durham Road to Route 27.
• Carter Road from Talmadge Road to the cul-de-sac.
• US Route 1 from Plainfield Ave to Old Post Road (south).
• Woodbridge Avenue from Plainfield Avenue to the Garden State Parkway ramps.

But there was a petition drive started against the changes that ended up garnering more than 5,000 signatures by Wednesday night. And Board of Education President Biral Patel, speaking before the council, emphasized the need to represent residents in future decision making.

Among the council, Councilman Ajay Patil who, with Councilman Richard Brescher were the only members to vote against introducing the expansion ordinance, noted how the issue brought out more residents than any in recent memory.

"This shows how sensitive the issue is," said Patil. He thanked the school board president for presenting the board's resolution opposing the expansion. (You can read about that resolution and a new initiative to deal with vaping and substance abuse here.)

Patil also admonished the council to "be cognizant" of residents' opinions in such matters before putting items on the agenda.

Council Vice President Margot Harris assured residents she will see to it that any other ordinance on the matter that may come up is presented openly, with advance notice and "not in the dead of summer" when people are on vacation.

Cannabis Subcommittee

The Cannabis Subcommittee is still a work in progress. So far, Nishith Patel and Councilman John Poyner appear to be the only two members, based on comments at the meeting. They both have said they see the value of cannabis and they supported the defeated measure.

"We can't demonize dispensaries," Patel said at the meeting.

The council president said the town has to "be practical" and see that there could be financial benefits in cannabis businesses, with licensing fees and tax revenue. He also said he is in the healthcare field and he feels cannabis has a positive purpose. Poyner has also expressed his support, citing the medical benefits of cannabis.

But as the subcommittee is developed, residents said there needs to be wider representation from the community, with other views represented.

School Board President Biral Patel told the council it did not "seek stakeholders' input," such as reaching out to the board, to the police, to residents in putting forward the amended ordinance.

He said he "appreciates the gesture" of accepting the board's resolution now, but he said his emails to the town prior about the issue had gone unanswered.

The town currently has a provision to allow cannabis businesses, but in a more industrial area.

According to the town ordinance, cannabis establishments are a permitted use in "the area southeast of Woodbridge Avenue between Amboy Avenue and Mill Road except for areas zoned for any class of residential use or within 1,000 feet of any area zoned for any class of residential use and as otherwise restricted in this ordinance or by state law."

Councilman Brescher said on Thursday that ordinance was crafted after many meetings with residents. He said he and now-Mayor Sam Joshi and others would "meet at a resident's house and they'd have 10 people over." He said they spoke to hundreds of people one-on-one for the 2021 ordinance.

He also said the Cannabis Subcommittee will need to be worked on and currently has just Council President Patel and Poyner as members.

He also questioned the financial benefits for the town to have more retail cannabis sales, although the ordinance allows for three retail sites.

He said if nearby Woodbridge estimates it could get a certain amount of revenue from its dispensary, that doesn't mean Edison will get the same amount.

"One liquor store in Middlesex County may do $10 million in business. Ten liquor stores will do $1 million in business," he said in a comparison to show that there is a finite demand for certain products.

For now, residents say they have overcome one hurdle, and they will keep an eye on the future for any other changes to cannabis businesses allowed in the township, said Nisha Sawant, one of the originators of the petition drive. (You can refer to the petition here to get a sense of the concerns of those signed on to it.)

"We need transparency," Sawant said.