CHESTER, NJ — The ordinance to prohibit recreational cannabis businesses of any type in Chester Borough that was up for adoption on June 15, has been delayed.
The public hearing and adoption are now on the schedule for the Tuesday, July 6 meeting.
Borough Mayor Janet Hoven said Friday the ordinance approval was set back for procedural reasons, with the borough needing to refer it to the Land Use Board and the County of Morris for another look.
Chester Borough introduced the prohibition ordinance on May 18, as a way to gather more information on cannabis business zoning questions, as well as more community feedback, before permitting any type of a recreational marijuana business in the borough.
Like many municipalities, including neighboring Chester Township, Hoven said the borough has received little information from the State of New Jersey yet about regulations for recreational marijuana businesses.
The Township adopted its ordinance on June 1 and scheduled a Town Hall with experts on the same night as the borough’s initial public hearing for its ordinance on June 15.
Both Hoven and Chester Township Mayor Marcia Asdal echoed the same concerns with allowing cannabis businesses in before the regulations are known, in that municipalities that do are then locked into their decision for five years. Hoven and Asdal both said the prohibition ordinance buys municipalities more time.
“We’re just saying ‘no’ for now,” Hoven said.
Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.