Hamilton conditions letter of support for Seville Row cannabis application on zoning review

Hamilton Township Council on March 19 approved a letter of support for Seville Row Manufacturing LLC’s application to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission for a craft-level cultivation and manufacturing license — but only after making the endorsement contingent on the township zoning office confirming the site meets local distance and line-of-sight rules.

The letter concerns a proposed operation identified in meeting materials as at “3 NAMI Lane.” Zeke Dewan (who said his given name is Anurag) and consultant Nick Peele told the council they intend a small “craft” operation focused on higher-quality product rather than mass-market brands. They estimated about 25 employees and said the development-to-operation timeline would be roughly 12 months, contingent on municipal and state approvals. “We definitely wanna make sure that we keep security and odor down for the school next door,” Peele said when asked about nearby childcare and school sensitivity.

Why it mattered: Several council members raised concerns about the township ordinance that restricts cannabis establishments’ proximity to schools and childcare facilities. Council members noted local code measures a distance by “walking from door to door” and requires mitigation of line-of-sight where applicable. A council member pointed to a backup calculation that showed approximately 0.2 miles (about 1,056 feet) between the applicant’s listed address and the Goddard School, while others said the town’s community development/zoning division should verify the precise measurement and whether the site meets ordinance standards.

What the council did: Members voted to reopen consideration of resolution 24-121 and amend the motion so the council’s letter of support is contingent on confirmation by the township’s community and economic development/zoning office that the proposed facility meets required distance/sight-line standards. The roll-call for the amended motion recorded Mister Papparo: yes; Miss Phillips: yes; Mister Tai: abstain; Mister Carabelli: yes. The tally was recorded as passing with three yes votes and one abstention.

What applicants said: Dewan described the project as building on his family’s local manufacturing experience and noted a preference for a longer-term, low-volume brand strategy. Peele, who described earlier facility experience on the West Coast, said standard measures for odor mitigation, security and compliance would be implemented and that he expected those systems to satisfy state and municipal reviewers.

Next steps: The council’s support is now formally conditional. Town officials said community development/zoning staff will verify compliance with the township ordinance; if zoning confirms the distance and sight-line requirements are satisfied, the letter will stand for the applicant to include in its state application. The project will still require state Cannabis Regulatory Commission approval and the local planning/zoning approvals before site development or operations may begin.