Bernards Township May Extend COVID-Era Restaurant Permits

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Earlier in the coronavirus pandemic, the Bernards Township Committee eased the process for restaurants to apply for modifications such as curbside pickup or additional outdoor seating. Officials will consider allowing restaurants to consider continuing such practices after the health crisis.

The Township Committee passed a resolution in June that set up a system for issuing special-use permits. These permits temporarily relaxed, waived or modified township regulations for businesses and other organizations. In the case of restaurants, such permits have expedited the processes for applying for more signage, curbside pickup and additional outdoor seating.

The township's special-use permits expire June 30. The Township Committee will discuss at Tuesday's meeting whether to allow the permits to last longer the expiration date or perhaps permanently.

"What we are trying to look at," said Mayor Jim Baldassare via email, "are any long-term and/or permanent changes that can (or should) be made to existing ordinances to allow for greater flexibility for our local restaurants to more regularly viably operate while the pandemic continues and thereafter."

Township Planner David Shley prepared a memorandum that lists six township restaurants that received special-use permits during the pandemic (see page 16 of the committee meeting agenda).

The document lists six restaurants that applied for more outdoor dining or similar modifications: Café Figaro, Café Rustica, Focacceria, Grain House, Vine and Washington House.

Vine has since closed permanently, according to Al LiCata, president of the Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce.

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"They’ve been great community supporters," LiCata said of Vine. "They’ve been hiring people’s kids, family members and friends for decades. They’ve been providing health benefits to people that live here. They’re gone, not because of their business model but because the executive orders out of Trenton buried them."

At this point, the discussion to potentially continue easing the process for special-use permits is just that: a discussion. Once the committee hears more from local businesses and the township planner, they'll vote on whether to send any suggested rule changes to the appropriate land use boards.

If anything passes, restaurants who applied for special-use permits would be able to continue those practices for as long as it's allowed.

"It will be up to our land use boards to determine the viability of any potential changes and what additional measures would be necessary to favorably address and institute the same," Baldassare told Patch.

LiCata listed several ways he wants to see municipal governments in the area help businesses during the pandemic, such as easing restrictions; waiving fees on inspections, permitting and applications; and pushing state legislators to pass laws allowing local governments to offer property-tax abatements to businesses hurt during the pandemic.

"These are the kind of packages local governments need to put in place now," LiCata said, "because there’s not much coming out of Trenton to help our business community."

The public portion of Tuesday's committee meeting begins at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Municipal Building (1 Collyer Ln.). See here for attendance and viewership info.

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