Moorestown To Discuss Outdoor Dining In Special Meeting

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening to discuss options for helping restaurants in the township reopen for outdoor dining.

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and both an ordinance and a resolution to authorize restaurants to expand their footprint to provide outdoor dining during the coronavirus pandemic are on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Brain Freeze plans to open on Monday. Brain Freeze Ice Cream Parlor, located at 99 West Main Street, has expansive outdoor seating in their front patio, garden courtyard and benches that will be available for people to enjoy their ice cream, milkshakes and Acai fruit bowls.

They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Moorestown Council is looking at ways to help restaurants in town expand their footprint for outdoor dining.

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Options Moorestown is considering include:

• Closing Main Street to vehicular traffic, something Police Chief Lee Lieber called the "least viable option," according to Wilson;
• The use of moving islands that can slide into two parking spaces, expanding sidewalk space up to 8 feet;
• Using the Community House lawn for seating, although it will likely use the space for its own food services;
• Eliminating parking in front of restaurants, although traffic would still remain a factor; and
• Allowing restaurants to negotiate with neighboring businesses to use some of their parking area for tables when possible.

The council, planning board and EDAC may have to hold special meetings to pass an amendment to local ordinance to allow for these changes. Read more here: Moorestown Explores Options For Outdoor Dining Return

The state has set forth the following guidelines all restaurants must follow:

• tables are going to have to be six feet apart
• buffet and salad bars will be gone
• takeout only will be offered if the weather gets bad
• employees at the bars and restaurants will have to wear masks

Anyone who wants to go inside will have to wear a face covering, and can only be there for a very short period of time. And instead of waiting for a table at the door, residents may have to wait in their car. Read more here: Here's What To Do At NJ Bars, Restaurants Under Coronavirus Rules

Members of the public can participate in the special meeting via teleconference just the same as if at an in-person meeting. The Mayor will open the floor for public participation in accordance with normal protocol. To join the meeting, dial +1 201-523-5900 and then enter Conference ID: 349 620 956 followed by the # sign.

A view of the council members will be broadcast via live stream on the internet. Please note that the livestream is not interactive, and you will not be able to participate in the meeting in this format. The live stream may be visiting https://www.moorestown.nj.us/129/Agendas-Minutes.

Once the meeting begins, you will see a video camera icon in the column labeled “Media” next to the meeting date. You can click on the video camera to view the live stream. Please note you will not see the video camera icon until the live stream begins.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know