Berkeley Offers Outdoor 'Café Permits' To Restaurants

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley Township officials created a temporary process for restaurants to expand outdoor seating. The township will offer outdoor "café permits" for when the state lifts its coronavirus ban on outdoor dining Monday.

Berkeley Township Council passed a resolution last month for a temporary expedited review process to allow restaurants to create seating outside. Outdoor dining was still prohibited, but many New Jersey cities and towns developed ways to ease the process to create more outdoor seating, anticipating Governor Phil Murphy would allow it in the next step of reopening New Jersey.

"We want to do everything we can to help and support local dining establishments," Mayor Carmen Amato told Patch. "These small businesses hire our residents, provide local eatery options to our residents and support our local nonprofit and civic organizations with donations."

Interested businesses can apply for the permits, which the township clerk will forward to the appropriate inspection office and departments. Upon review, inspectors and officials will forward recommendations to the clerk.

The township administrator will review the recommendations and make a determination. Berkeley will return to its normal process of approving such changes once the state of emergency is lifted.

Berkeley will hold a special Township Council meeting at 11 a.m. Friday to waive or refund application fees.

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"They have endured so much in the last few months," Amato said. "We are committed to do everything in our power to help them survive in these uncertain times."

Murphy has gradually lifted coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks, including ending his stay-at-home order Tuesday. But Ocean County's mayors, including Amato, sent Murphy a letter Friday to reopen the state's economy.

The mayors requested that Murphy have faith that business owners can operate in the best interests of themselves and their communities.

"The 'possibility' of more openings and the 'possibility' of easing more restrictions is unfortunately not enough," the letter said. "These actions need to happen immediately, or the chance of re-opening will not longer exist for many of our businesses."

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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