Here's Where Cannabis Businesses Could Go In Parsippany

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Town Council will likely approve a limited welcome for cannabis businesses. Members expressed support at Tuesday's meeting for allowing wholesaler and distributor licenses within Parsippany, but they would not approve dispensaries — at least for now.

The state gave all New Jersey municipalities until Aug. 22 to decide whether to ban any or all types of marijuana businesses. Cities and towns that miss the deadline cannot impose such bans for five more years. Any businesses established within that timeframe get grandfathered in even if there's a future ban.

The council previously favored a complete ban on all six classes of cannabis licenses the state would issue. But officials now see benefits to allowing certain types of marijuana establishments on a limited basis.

"Parsippany is basically the crossroads of northern New Jersey," said Council President Michael dePierro. "Every highway cuts through Parsippany. I can envision warehousing wanting to be here, even if we don’t have dispensaries. They can get here from anywhere, and they can go anywhere."

The Types of Licenses

Parsippany appears set to approve Class 3 (wholesaler) and Class 4 (distributor) licenses within township premises by the deadline. Wholesalers can obtain and sell cannabis items for later resale to licensees, while distributors transport items in bulk throughout New Jersey.

Parsippany, for now, would prohibit Classes 1, 2, 3 and 6, which include cultivators, manufacturers, retail establishments and delivery facilities. (Towns cannot ban their residents from getting marijuana delivered to them.)

The Parsippany Cannabis Working Group proposed a maximum of two licenses for each allowable class to be permitted within township premises. Banning certain licenses before Aug. 22 would allow the township to revisit them later, especially once they can better judge the market of legal cannabis.

"It’s kind of a nice compromise to allow some limited operation in a way that makes sense," said Council Member Emily Peterson, "and you can always go back and revisit when you want to expand it."

Township officials discussed allowing cultivation to further entice wholesalers to set up business in Parsippany. But they agreed the township doesn't have the water to support a growth facility.

Where Would They Go?

The working group pinpointed four potential areas to allow cannabis businesses:

• the Edwards Road and New Road corridor on the township's east side
• Parsippany Boulevard and Fanny Road, near the Boonton border
• the commercially zoned corridor along Jefferson and Pomery Roads near Route 287
• parts of the Morris Corporate Center with frontage on Interpace Parkway

The group chose the locations to ensure businesses would be 1,000 feet from school properties and 500 feet from public facilities and residential zones, according to Township Planner Susan Favate.

The businesses couldn't exceed the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and they'd need to keep operations enclosed within their buildings.

Favate proposed a timeline in which Township Council would get a first reading of the ordinance at June 15's meeting and then a second June 21. Referral to the Planning Board would take place June 21, setting up adoption of regulations for July 21 at the latest.

Township Attorney Jim Lott recommended they complete the process by July 6.

Watch the full council meeting below:

Thanks for reading. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter and follow the Parsippany Patch Facebook page.