Rooftop Dining Proposal Postponed By Morristown Board

MORRISTOWN, NJ — After being turned down by the Morristown council last year, the Iron Bar was scheduled to make another pitch for rooftop dining before the zoning board, but it was pushed back to a later date.

Since initially being rejected in April 2021, Iron Bar owner James Cavanaugh has been seeking permission to extend the Iron Bar's liquor license to the roof, for 150 seats, plus an 18-seat bar and standing room, according to zoning board documents.

According to board officials, Cavanaugh's application was scheduled for a hearing before the zoning board but was pushed back to a later date.

Iron Bar, which is located at 5 South Street in Morristown, describes itself as a "lively bar/ night club with great shareable food offerings, draft and bottled beer and craft cocktails."

According to zoning board documents, the expansion will necessitate changes to the building's interior and exterior but no structural changes.

Cavanaugh also does not intend to provide additional parking and is seeking a waiver of that obligation, according to zoning board documents. Despite the fact that, according to town zoning regulations, nightclubs require more parking spaces than restaurants, and the application describes the building as a "restaurant/bar/nightclub."

Concerns about an increase in noise influenced the council's previous decision to reject the Iron Bar's proposed rooftop dining, and the council enacted a noise ordinance outlining infractions and enforcement. The ordinance specifies which violations are subject to a warning and which are subject to heavy fines.

The fate of Iron Bar's rooftop dining expansion is currently unknown and will have to wait until a zoning board meeting in the near future. The next zoning board meeting is set for Aug. 3, but the official agenda has yet to be posted, so it is unclear whether the application will be heard at that time.