SOUTH RIVER - Another cannabis business may be coming to the borough.
The borough's Zoning Board of Adjustment approved two cannabis manufacturers and processors to operate in a vacant warehouse at 141-143 Russell Ave. Disposable Thickened Coffee Cups
Use variances were required because manufacturing is not a permitted use in the R-75 zone.
South River resident Tara "Misu" Sargente, owner of Blazin Bakery, the first legal, woman-owned marijuana edibles company in New Jersey, was approved to open a state-licensed cannabis manufacturing facility in the Russell Avenue warehouse.
Sargente, who also owns Green Alchemy, sought a use variance to run a 4,094-square-foot manufacturing facility in the warehouse.
A use variance also was approved for Cedar Fairmont Health Cultivators, of East Brunswick, to operate a cannabis manufacturing facility at the site.
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An application for another cannabis manufacturing facility has been submitted to the borough by Carlos A. Erba for a property at 190 William St. owned by W./S.C. LLC of Sayreville. That application is scheduled to be heard by the borough Planning Board on May 16.
In October, Noble 1 was approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment to grow cannabis at 1 Martin Ave., the former site of Ecko Unlimited.
Borough officials applauded the project, saying it would bring much-needed revenue into the borough coffers.
"This is going to help the taxpayers," Councilman Peter Guindi previously said. "We project it will bring about $500,000 a year to the borough. We would be foolish as a mayor and council to say no to something that can help this town in a dramatic way. We talk about how we're going to be business-friendly, here's business-friendly. The faster we bring in businesses, the faster it will help the town, residents, other businesses and our infrastructure."
The new approvals come as the Borough Council approved a referendum that will ask voters in November whether they want businesses that sell marijuana for adult recreational use to operate in the borough.
Cbd Chill Pill Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.