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How did a small rural town with no public sewer or water end up with a smelly pot factory?
How did a small rural town with no public sewer or water end up with a smelly pot factory?
CHARLES LATINI
CHARLES LATINI
Part Owner of GMNJ (through Ewing Dirt)
Planning Consultant to GMNJ
West Amwell Special Planner
West Amwell Zoning Officer
Author of West Amwell Cannabis Ordinances
Performs Route 31 Redevelopment Study and wrote the Redevelopment Plan
STEVE BERGENFELD
STEVE BERGENFELD
Owner of Pine Creek Redevelopment (Route 31)
Owner of Medical Cannabis Company
Writes letters of support for GMNJ while applying for retail license
Publicly recuses himself from participating in Cannabis related matters while privately working with Chuck Latini to draft ordinances
SETH TIPTON
SETH TIPTON
Medical Marijuana Attorney
Registers Pine Creek Redevelopment
Writes Letter to West Amwell Township Requesting Route 31 Study on behalf of Anonymous clients?
GMNJ is being sued for failure to pay their mortage
Owes over $7 million dollars to lenders and unpaid contractors
No statement from the Township Committee
Have they paid their West Amwell Taxes?
And all that Host Agreement money?
OPERATING SINCE NOV with a TCO. Numerous unresolved violations of Planning Board Resolution
Recall of Product due to Insects and Human Hair
July 31 2024 Update
GMNJ received a Temporary CO on November 23, 2023, valid until February 14, 2024. Requirement include "Completion of Phase 2 and all engineering concerns" If GMNJ did not meet these obligations, they would be subject to fine or vacate"
Strong Odor
Multiple neighbors and residents have reported a strong smell on numerous occasions. The West Amwell Zoning Officer, the West Amwell Township Committee, the NJ DEP and the Hunterdon Country Health Department have all been notified. Formal Complaints have also been filed. Yet it still smells!
No Sound Barriers
GMNJ have not installed the required sound barrier and there is no apparent work being done to build the barrier.
They appear to be relying on Port of Potties (with permission of Township officials). The much disputed septic system appears to be not working.
Despite these many issues the TCO has been renewed multiple times
The Township Committee has publicly stated that GMNJ has until end of July to remedy the numerous documented issues.
On July 29, 2024 CRC has issued a recall for GMNJ products because their product contains insect parts and human hair.
Benefits to West Amwell Residents and Community
No update on whether GMNJ has paid any of the promised Development fees to West Amwell Township.
SHORT UPDATE
GMNJ don’t have permits to fully complete construction or begin operations.
West Amwell Township has issued a permit for interior construction - no exterior work allowed. There are still several outstanding conditions that must be met AND a lawsuit is pending. The lawsuit challenges the planning board approval on multiple grounds including jurisdiction, alleged corruption and unethical behavior and more. In the meantime, all work performed by GMNJ is at their own risk.
License Status: The approval by the Cannabis Commission stipulated that GMNJ must “be fully permitted within 18 months” of the date that their license was awarded - that would have been April 15, 2023. We don’t know exactly what “fully permitted” means or if CRC gave them an extension. If we learn more, we will share it.
Woodmeier Farms Lawsuit
A look back at 2022
A look back at 2022
It certainly was an eventful and enlightening year.
In January of 2022, few residents were aware that the West Amwell Township Committee had voted to allow cannabis businesses to locate in West Amwell and almost no one had heard of GMNJ, a Colorado company.
That changed with the application by GMNJ to turn a former church on Route 518 into a 30,000 square foot cannabis factory. We learned that this factory could be the first of many and that all types of cannabis businesses are permitted in West Amwell, some in residential zones.
And we worried – about our water, our quiet way of life and our property values.
We organized and we spoke up.
We wrote letters and emails to Committee members. We studied, became familiar with, and in some cases experts on the various laws and governmental agencies. We learned that how you calculate water usage for septic really matters, and that regulations in place to protect the environment are important,
We made a difference.
Residents and community members showed up at every meeting – sitting through hours of testimony, waiting to be heard. When it was our turn, residents repeatedly raised concerns, about noise and odor, about wetlands and the environmentally sensitive SRPD zone, and about water usage and the risks to our wells.
An application that appeared destined for easy approval in February was delayed, reworked and required three Planning Board meetings that ran through July. The Planning Board heard you and imposed specific conditions that could help protect our wells.
While we didn’t get everything and are disappointed by the decision, our voices and presence made a difference.
We VOTED
West Amwell residents voted overwhelmingly for change electing Meghan Hudson to Township Committee. While her running mate Dee Yoder did not win, she received an amazing 240+ write in votes. The power of the Ballot is strong and loud.
And the fight continues
Legal challenges are pending against approvals by the Planning Board and other government agencies.
The Hunterdon County Department of Health rescinded their decision to to allow GMNJ's factory to use the undersized septic system designed for a church and built in 1990.
NJ DEP is now involved and GMNJ is finally taking steps to apply for a Treatment Works Permit to manage the waste water. If you want more details on any aspects of these actions and updates, just ask.
We remain hopeful
that the West Amwell Township Committee will revisit the cannabis ordinance to address the many concerns raised by residents and neighbors, and with the help of independent experts put in needed protections.
With your help and vigilance, we can finally get meaningful and enforceable protections in place.
THANK YOU and HAPPY NEW YEAR
Latest news.........
Latest news.........
December 7 West Amwell Township Committee votes to adopt new cannabis ordinance.
The law amends the current rules which allow unlimited cannabis cultivation and manufacturing and up to 2 retail facilities and allows facilities in residential areas.
Notable changes:
Limits Recreational cultivation to 2 large facilities and 2 micro. Unlimited medical still allowed.
Does not limit number of manufacturing facilities or warehouses.
Requires cultivation facilities (but not manufacturing) to provide a water conservation plan and to "maximize solar energy use"
Removes requirement to abide by West Amwell Noise and Odor rules and relies instead on state rules only.
Requires cultivation facilities (and ONLY cultivation facilities) to install odor control systems. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. Manufacturing uses concentrated oils and can smell worse than cultivation and the smell can be persistent.
Requires cultivation facilities to shield generators. Generators for other types of facilities do not need to be shielded (why?)
November 16 West Amwell Township Committee introduced new Cannabis Law.
Notable changes are limits to recreational cultivation. Sadly this bill does not appear to provide basic and minimal protections needed. Water use is not limited or metered ! And unlimited medical cultivation and manufacturing are allowed.
November 8 Meghan Hudson wins seat on West Amwell Township Committee
Congratulation to Meghan Hudson and Dee Yoder for running a strong campaign. Dee Yoder got over 200 write in votes which is absolutely amazing. It is clear that West Amwell residents want change and you made your voice heard at the ballot box.
October 5 West Amwell Township Committee fails to introduce new cannabis law.
West Amwell Township Committee decided they weren't ready (despite putting the proposed new law/ordinance on the agenda), in part because they needed time to consider the suggestions which Meghan Hudson provided.
Do you think the Commitee is actually planning to make changes or did they put the ordinance on the agenda because Save the Amwell publicly asked residents to support us in calling for change?
September 21 Save the Amwells called on West Amwell Township Committee to make needed changes to cannabis laws NOW. Publicly asks residents to join us on October 5 to ask for change.
We listed 6 changes needed and announced that we would be proposing a specific ordinance.
FIVE CHANGES NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR WATER & WAY OF LIFE
FIVE CHANGES NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR WATER & WAY OF LIFE
Limit the number of facilities
Limit the number of facilities
The new law allows UNLIMITED medical cultivation, UNLIMITED manufacturing, and warehouses.
The law DOES add limits on recreational cultivation. Two large factories and two micros will be allowed. Plus unlimited medical including cultivation.
Limit and meter water usage
Limit and meter water usage
The new law requires cultivators to provide a water saving plan.
IT DOES NOT HAVE LIMITS or require metering.
WIthout quantifiable limits and a means to enforce, a water saving plan is not going to protect us!
Proactive monitoring of odor & noise
Proactive monitoring of odor & noise
Limits are near impossible to enforce without tools in place.
It becomes he said/ she said and the onus is on the residents to prove that there is an issue.
Minimum distance from houses
Minimum distance from houses
Must require at least 1000 feet from existing residences OR limit to Industrial zones (per state guidelines)
Industrial zones have existing noise and unusual odor reducing impact
Cannabis facilities are allowed in Residential and Commercial zone in West Amwell. A buffer zone protects us.
No cannabis in school zones
No cannabis in school zones
Cannabis facilities do not belong in school zones
Cannabis facilities do not belong in school zones
There is not much more to say
CANNABIS FACTORIES ARE NOT FARMS
CANNABIS FACTORIES ARE NOT FARMS
They are classified as Industrial Factories - Moderate Hazard under IBC code
Increased risks for Employees, First Responders, and Community.
Large noisy warehouse like structures using Industrial HVAC systems
Growing requires large amount of water use.
Create waste water laden with chemicals and pesticides.
High levels of C02 & VOC's emitted into our air.
Emit as much carbon as burning a FULL TANK OF GAS.
Require 24 hour surveillance and onsite security
IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY
IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY
Wells could go dry. Growing cannabis is water intensive. No studies done to understand cumulative impact of multiple water intensive factories on our already limited water supply.
Chemical laden waste water could harm our water supply. Factories must be required to truck away this water and or get a DEP permit to handle this industrial waste.
Smell of skunk in the air. Even industry advocates state that it cannot be eliminated.
Increased traffic and noise. Factories need industrial HVAC running 24 hours a day.
Increased costs of police and fire fighters.
Cost to West Amwell could exceed revenue, especially if a full time fire department is needed.
Reduced Property Value. Who pays for that?
TOO MANY RISKS. TOO MANY UNKNOWNS.
TOO MANY RISKS. TOO MANY UNKNOWNS.
That is what most municipalities decided.
West Amwell is the ONLY municipality in Hunterdon Country to allow unlimited factories.
Flemington allows one factory. No other Hunterdon County municipality allows factories.
Towns like Readington, NJ where citizens suffered from the stench of a marijuana factory voted to ban any additional factories.
West Amwell Township Committee invited developers in and voted to offer tax incentives.
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