Sidewalk Café Rules Could Get Another Month In Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ — If you enjoy outdoor dining, you may be in luck. Town Council may extend pandemic rules which expedite the process for restaurants to provide sidewalk seating.

Under "normal" times, Morristown restaurants must submit an application to the Town Council for a license to operate a "sidewalk café." But during the pandemic, the town has shortened the process, giving Business Administrator Jillian Barrick the power to permit any restaurant to expand its outdoor dining.

That power is set to run out Sept. 30. But at the Town Council's Tuesday meeting, the governing body will look at a resolution that would expand the expedited process until Oct. 31.

The resolution — see page 25 of the meeting agenda — is designed to help restaurants, with the industry taking a significant economic hit during the pandemic.

Many New Jersey towns temporarily eased regulations for outdoor dining during the pandemic. State officials temporarily prohibited restaurants from serving customers on-premises, then indoors and then enforced social distancing and limited capacities. New Jersey dropped distancing and capacity restrictions for indoor dining May 28.

Other Agenda Highlights

• Town Council could adopt three ordinances that would allot about $12 million for capital improvements to the Morristown Municipal Airport. The funds would finance Phase 2 of a 10-year project to improve the airport's again infrastructure.
• The council may also adopt amendments to regulations on skateboarding and similar vehicles. The ordinance would scrap current Morristown rules which prohibit skateboarding, rollerblading and rollerskating at any park. It would also delete a law that prohibits people older than 12 from skateboarding, rollerblading or using a scooter or any similar device on any sidewalk, except in certain scenarios such as newspaper delivery. Read more: New Skateboard, Scooter Rules Could Roll Into Morristown

See the full agenda packet.

How to Access the Meeting

Find the Zoom link here, plus more information on accessing and participating in the meeting.

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