Relief For Small Businesses Extended In Basking Ridge Post-COVID

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — For the second year in a row, the Bernards Township Committee is extending special privileges to small businesses, including outdoor dining, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make an impact.

"With the COVID pandemic and supply chain issues and everything else - this absolutely should be extended for at least another year," said Bernards Township Mayor James Baldassare. "Anything we can do to help our businesses in town, we will continue to do that. This is one of those things."

The township committee voted unanimously at the July 12 meeting to pass a resolution extending the permitted relief of certain ordinances to assist local businesses as they re-open following the lifting of COVID-19 executive orders through Dec. 31, 2023.

"A lot of businesses are still grappling and digging out from [the pandemic] so I think further extending this relief is appropriate and necessary," said Committeeperson Andrew McNally.

The initial resolution passed in 2020 was set to expire in December 2021. The Committee previously voted in July 2021 to extend that through Dec. 31, 2022.

Washington House at 55 South Finley Ave. is one of the small businesses in the township that has taken advantage of this resolution with its more than 5,000 square-foot outdoor tent. The restaurant is now looking to make the 50-foot-wide by 100-foot-long tent a permanent fixture in downtown Basking Ridge. Read More: Washington House's Permanent Dining Tent Hearing To Continue

The continued hearing of the application will be held on Sept. 15.

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