Fair Haven: Council Approves Phase 2 COVID Reopening Measures to Assist Local Businesses

In a move to support local businesses in the second-stage reopening of New Jersey amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fair Haven Borough Council at its Monday night meeting unanimously passed three resolutions temporarily amending ordinances and lifting associated permit fees.

The three resolutions involve restaurant/eatery outdoor dining, exercise and fitness and sidewalk business function.

“I was fortunate to work with Betsy Koch on these resolutions and being appointed by the Mayor to chair the Open Fair Haven for Business Committee,” Fair Haven Borough Council President Susan Sorensen said after the meeting. “The borough (council members are) doing all that we can to help the businesses in Fair Haven. They are an integral part of our great community.”

The resolutions’ approval came on the cusp of NJ Gov. Murphy’s Tuesday announcement lifting the stay-at-home edict and the move to reopen restaurants for outdoor dining on June 15 and the limited opening of “personal care” businesses.

Regarding Fair Haven restaurants/eateries, officials’ hope is to rejuvenate and save those businesses in the borough that took a hard COVID-19 hit. Considering that dining will be limited to outdoors in stage two, the help answer was a simple one for council — drop the application for permits and associated fees for 120 days. That expansion keeps the option open to eateries into the phase when limited indoor dining becomes permissible.

The promotion of the al fresco dining concept came to Fair Haven in 2012, when council first started approving for permits eateries that wanted to expand some seating to the outdoors. Originally, the permits were issued on a trial basis, Mayor Ben Lucarelli had said at the onset, adding that the idea was that anything to boost local businesses is beneficial. The idea then was to attract people to FairHaven’s small businesses and keep them coming back.

So, now, eight years and several outdoor dining spot permit approvals and a pandemic later, the concept is being promoted to help save businesses by waiving the fee and expanding parameters.

“The intent (of the Restaurant Ordinance) is to provide a temporary permit for 120 days (at no charge) for all restaurants in town to expand their footprints outdoors,” Sorensen said. “Even when they are given the green light to open up indoors, they can still use outdoor dining to expand their footprint. They can even go beyond what is allowed today with a regular outdoor dining permit.”

One already paid $50 outdoor seating application fee by a local eatery was authorized for a refund.

A second resolution, authorizing “the temporary use of public parks and fields by local exercise and fitness businesses,” encourages health and fitness in post-quarantined times.

It allows those businesses free use of public open space in the borough, such as Fair Haven Fields, McCarter Park and others, at no charge, to conduct classes for 120 days. Typically, a fee is associated with using those spots. It also permits those businesses to take advantage of any outdoor space (such as sidewalks) around their brick-and-mortar structures.

The Pilates Project, for one, is following suit …

A third resolution, “authorizing sidewalk sales” permits for 120 days a relaxing of retail business parameters. The resolution allows businesses to set up tables and merchandise for sale outside of their stores.

It “allows any and all businesses to take advantage of their outdoor surroundings,” Sorensen said. “There is a simple application, which Betsy Koch and I will be walking around on Friday (weather permitting), delivering to all the businesses that are currently open as well as having it on the website, and for the FHBA to email out. Also, we have signs that we will be handing out that are really great that the businesses can put in the windows to let people know they are open, to please wear a mask, and that FH is caring community that thanks the front liners.”

Facing a post-pandemic new normal, Sorensen said that borough officials are expanding these ideas to form some sort of future concept of an “open business stroll” that would involve blocking River Road for a day to enable a visit/shop/dine event. More details on that will come.

“I hope that once Phase 2 begins and businesses are open, our residents will show them all tons of love and support,” Sorensen concluded. “Please remember to shop and support local.”

For the full June 8 meeting agenda, including the resolutions, click here.