Saddle River council renews local ban on cannabis businesses, adopts fire-prevention changes and introduces affordable-housing stormwater rules

The Saddle River Borough Council on Tuesday voted to continue the borough's ban on cannabis businesses and approved a fire-prevention code amendment, while introducing a separate ordinance on stormwater rules for affordable housing projects that will return for public hearing.

Ordinance 26-1120, read by the borough clerk, renews the borough's opt-out prohibiting any class of cannabis business within municipal boundaries. Council members observed that the borough's initial opt-out period—entered under state statute years earlier—was due for renewal, and they adopted the ordinance on second reading by roll call. The clerk said Ordinance 26-1120 "has been approved by second reading and will be posted on the Saddle River website." (no public opposition was recorded at the meeting.)

The council also adopted Ordinance 26-1121, an amendment to Chapter 113 of the borough code relating to fire prevention, following second-reading procedures and a unanimous roll-call vote.

Separately, the clerk introduced Ordinance 26-1122 to amend Chapter 65 (affordable housing). Council members explained that for a 100% affordable housing project sponsored by the borough, state stormwater-management regulations would apply, while the municipality may maintain stricter stormwater requirements for other multifamily developments or set-aside projects. The ordinance was introduced tonight and a public hearing was scheduled for the next regular meeting; a copy of the ordinance was made available on the meeting table and will be published ahead of the public hearing.

All roll-call votes recorded during tonight's ordinance adoptions were affirmative from councilmembers present. The introduction of Ordinance 26-1122 reserves public comment for the formal hearing at the next meeting.