Hoboken Lawmakers May Nix ‘500-Foot’ Rule For Bars, Restaurants

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken lawmakers are considering striking down the city’s decades-old “500-Foot Rule” for retail liquor licenses and want local community members’ input.

According to a city news release, Hoboken City Council President Jennifer Giattino has called for a special meeting of the City Council at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26 at City Council Chambers, 94 Washington Street.

The meeting is to discuss an ordinance (Z-434), sponsored by Councilman Doyle and Councilman Russo, to amend the “Alcoholic Beverages” chapter of the City code to remove §68-7, also known as the “500-Foot Rule.”

According to the Hoboken city code, §68-7 reads:

“No plenary retail consumption license, except renewals for the same licensed premises and transfers of license from person to person within the same premises, shall be granted or transfer made to other premises within a distance of 500 feet from any other premises then covered by a plenary retail consumption license. There shall be no exceptions to this restriction. Should a license held by a restaurant be transferred to another location for use as a tavern, the restriction promulgated herein shall apply.”

The Sept. 26 meeting will allow the council to hear the community’s perspective as they consider the proposed legislation, city officials stated.

A vote on the ordinance will not be taken at the meeting, city officials added.

Photo: Flickr Commons, Waferboard

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