On the agenda is consideration of a conditional use for Sea Grass, a cannabis retail store planned for what is currently Chilango’s at the corner of Seadrift and Bay Avenues.
Not certain, but it appears it will be a long, involved and highly questioned land use board meeting in Highlands beginning at 7 p. m. Thursday, March 9 at the Community Center.
Conflict??
The truth is, however, the item on the agenda for Sea Grass NJ LLC to be considered for a cannabis Retailer license on property currently owned by Councilman Leo Cervantes should not even be considered.
That’s because, back in October, 2022, less than half a year ago, Councilman Leo Cervantes was one of the five council members who voted that they, including Mr. Cervantes, “supports the safe and appropriate siting of an adult use cannabis dispensary within the Central Business District for Sea Grass NJ LLC.”
So then, all of a sudden, according to the video Councilman Cervantes made and circulated, a short time after the resolution was adopted unanimously, including Councilman Cervantes’ affirmative vote, two men he did not know came in to Chilangos and said they wanted to buy his property specifically to put a cannabis dispensary.
Now it appears that very same license applicant who got approval for the safe and appropriate siting of a dispensary is seeking permission to buy Councilman Cervantes property and place it there?
Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture? Does anybody else see a conflict of interest?
Questions
If that isn’t enough, the agenda packet includes at least eight comprehensive exhibits presented by the applicant and they in themselves draw a number of questions.
Hopefully, attendees at the meeting can ask:
- Has anyone investigated to see whether a council-member can sell his own property for a cannabis retail business after he approved a cannabis license procedure for the borough?
- Has anyone asked why the address of the property owner, who also happens to be a borough councilman is listed as Asbury Park, NJ? For that matter, has anyone asked why the councilman’s street address in Asbury Park is redacted?
- Does anyone know that Chilango’s is on Bay Avenue, a county road, and is including parking across the street, also on Bay Avenue, property he also owns, as parking availability for the proposed cannabis business?
- Does anyone know that since this involves pedestrians crossing a county road, not only is a crossing lane directed to be identified, but handicapped access for wheelchairs must be cut through the curbing, and warning signals must be mounted and lit?
- Do you know whether the present Chilango’s has private collection for trash as a business, and are there similar and more stringent plans for better collections?
- Does anyone know whether the Borough, since it is only permitted one retail license by state regulation, can make a recommendation for which it prefers?
- Does anyone know whether voters can call for a special election to decide that?
- Is the Chilango’s application as thorough and complete as the one already approved?
- Does anyone know how the new Skate Park will be impacted by a cannabis license in Waterwitch?
- Does anyone know whether Huddy Park is within the restricted area for a license at that location?
Ask THE Question
Hopefully, the Land Use Board will not waste everyone’s time, the cost of attorneys and experts, and will first ask its attorney at the onset of the hearing, for a ruling on whether it is a conflict of interest for a councilman to vote to approve a cannabis license for the town, then less than six months later, have an application by that very same name seek approval to put it on his property.
