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Applicant says dispensary application stalled; council says planning and economic-development review needed
Summary
David Nicholas, CEO of Prolific Growhouse/Prolific Dispensary, told the council his dispensary application submitted in July has received no township follow-up; council members and staff said applications route through planning and economic-development offices and that they will investigate and contact the applicant.
David Nicholas, CEO of Prolific Growhouse and Prolific Dispensary, asked Hamilton Township officials on Sept. 23 why his application to open a cannabis dispensary at 691 Route 130, unit 4 had not progressed after he submitted it to Director Fred Dumont in July.
"I've been reaching out day after day, week after week," Nicholas said. He told the council his lease has been in place since February and that he recently obtained a conditional recommendation from CRC for a class-5 conditional license that expires in April; he said the delay is putting his company and funds at stake.
An attorney who introduced Nicholas said the application included zoning documentation and a letter from the zoning official stating the use was permitted; he asked the council to identify what additional documentation or actions are needed from the applicant. "We understand perhaps the procedures that you need to before this council would issue a letter of recommendation," the attorney said.
Council members responded that the review process typically starts with planning and economic-development staff, which then forwards recommendations to the mayor's team; the council president said he had no information on the application and would take Nicholas's materials under advisement. Director Dumont confirmed his office had received complaints and had met with residents on other issues the same week but did not provide a final status on the dispensary application at the meeting.
The council asked Nicholas to leave contact information and said staff would follow up. No vote or formal action was taken on the application during the meeting.
