West Milford Township was expected to an amend an ordinance to permitting outdoor dining. Photo illustration by Frédéric Barriol on Unsplash.
An amended ordinance to permit outdoor dining was expected to be approved by the Township of West Milford this week.
Outdoor dining shall be a permitted accessory use to permitted restaurants in the community commercial, village commercial, neighborhood commercial and lake commercial zones if the council took action.
This is considered a permitted accessory use for those restaurants that have been established with a pre-existing non-con forming use as defined by the township code and municipal land use law.
The accessory use to a restaurant is defined as consumption of food by the public at tables located outside the restaurant on a patio, deck or within that more or less rectangular portion of the sidewalk which lies within the area bounded by the pubic street or parking area, the principal façade and the imaginary perpendicular lines running from the outer edge of such principal façade to the public street and containing readily removable tables, chairs, umbrellas, temporary railings, barriers and/or planters.
It may be enclosed by fixed walls or ceilings, fences, landscaping walls, retractable awnings, removable barriers, tents or other semi-permanent or permanent enclosures.
There may be outdoor entertainment or live music between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. provided that the sound from the entertainment or live music does not exceed sound levels permitted.
There must be a sketch of the proposed area for live entertainment, along with lighting, electrical, parking and seating included in the application and submitted for approval.
The live entertainment will be for the purpose of patrons within the established seating and parking arrangements of the restaurant or establishment.
There will be no standing room, dancing, additional seating or parking permitted in connection with live entertainment.
- Ann Genader