Concerns Over Haddonfield's Walkability Will Be Addressed, Borough Official Says

HADDONFIELD, NJ — Haddonfield's zoning officer recently said he would talk to downtown businesses about removing some of the chairs and tables that the businesses have placed on sidewalks.

Some of these chairs and tables take up more space than they probably should, a resident said at a recent borough meeting.

New rules established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and then expanded in the years since allowed many businesses to expand outdoor dining and shopping options.

However, some Haddonfield businesses took the new rules too far and needed to scale back — but not eliminate — their outdoor capacity, a borough resident said at the borough commissioners' Aug. 29 meeting.

For instance, some people walking downtown have had to maneuver strollers and leashed pets around restaurants' outdoor tables, chairs and other equipment, the resident said.

Tavis Karrow, the borough's zoning officer, said he would look into the matter.

"We try to do our best to make sure that people abide by those rules," he said. "At this point, my office needs to have a discussion with the [businesses]."

Karrow was unavailable for an interview with Patch on Sept. 14 and Sept. 15 to provide Patch with an update on where these discussions stood.

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