A proposed dispensary planned in Blackwood at the site of a former exotic bird store on the Black Horse Pike looks for minor site plan approval tonight, December 11th. Earlier this year they were granted a “use-variance” to operate a cannabis retail store at the property.
To be clear, the use of the property for cannabis retail sales has already been approved and tonight’s hearing is focused on construction aspects within the lot such as parking lot size and number of spaces.
Previously the property was home to Fancy Feathers Exotic Birds store and sanctuary. Their Facebook page shows they had been in business since 2001 and it appears they closed just last year. Their last Facebook post supporting the business was in August of 2023, and then a month later they promoted that one of the former employees was available for house calls.
Locals would call this section of Gloucester Township “Hilltop” and is very close to Glendora, but then has a mailing address of Blackwood… but regardless all of those communities are part of Gloucester Township.
Dispensary at Exotic Bird Store
This effort to convert to a cannabis dispensary is considered a minor site plan review as for the conversion to a cannabis retailer, the building footprint will remain the same but a new paved parking lot will be developed to the left of the building.
Upgrades to the building will take place as part of the conversion to a dispensary, but all within the same building footprint.
A drawing supplied with the application shows 16 parking spaces (by my count) although the prior granted use-approval hearing from over the summer indicated 13 parking spaces. Regardless, more parking space are better.
It was also noted that any existing accessory buildings on the property would be removed (freeing up the space for the new parking area).
The June 26th Zoning Board review approved the initial request of a use-variance for the property which was primarily focused on “can this property be used for a dispensary when there is residential property within 500 feet”
The subsequent Zoning Board resolution describes how several local residents spoke in favor of the project. A competing dispensary retailer spoke against the use-variance approval.
A professional planner hired by the applicant for the initial use-variance request stated the site was still suitable for cannabis use despite residential homes within 500 feet, as the property is surrounded by a large cemetery behind it, and the residential homes on the other side of the Black Horse Pike are separated by the three lanes of the roadway which creates a sufficient barrier meeting the intent of the Township code.
The Zoning Board approved the use of the property for a dispensary stating that the relief requested by the applicant may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and otherwise without impairing the intent and purpose of the zoning plan and ordinances of the township of Gloucester.
Likely that was the largest Township approval hurdle for the future cannabis business at the site.
As mentioned, tonight’s hearing is focused on the site development aspects of the project, which includes creating a parking area to the left of the building.
A previous requested variance for adding a drive-thru pickup aspect had been removed from the request… this cannabis retailer will not offer a drive-thru feature.
While I could not find information on the name of the proposed cannabis retailer, commentary from the Zoning Board minutes state that the operator is a former Gloucester Township resident who until very recently lived in the Township for 40 years.
Links and Location
Hilltop Area Cannabis Dispensary – Planned
1610 North Black Horse Pike
Blackwood (Gloucester Township), New Jersey
Zoning Site Plan Review
11th day of December, 2024, at 7:00 P.M.
Township of Gloucester Zoning Board of Adjustment
1261 Chews Landing-Clementon Road at Hider Lane
Gloucester Township, New Jersey