extra commuter permits
to residents also discussed
Parking at new restaurants
focus of officials’ discussion
Possibility of issuing
extra commuter permits
to residents also discussed
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Township Committee members discussed a number of issues during their most recent workshop meeting, including parking standards for restaurants, the issuance of parking permits at commuter lots, and rules for campgrounds.
According to recommendations from the township’s planner, Thomas A. Thomas, additional parking spaces should be a requirement for new restaurant applications.
"It is important that restaurants provide adequate parking since most are located on major roads where on-street parking is not available," Thomas said after he had researched the issue.
According to a memo, the present parking standard for restaurants is one space for every four customer seats and for every two employees, which has been part of the land use regulations since 1980.
But, said Thomas, the township and the size of restaurants has increased over the years.
Thomas recommended that restaurants, luncheonettes, cafeterias, bars and taverns have one space for every three customer seats at tables or booths and one space for every two counter seats and one space for every two employees.
The revised parking requirements would increase the number of parking spaces for new restaurants by approximately one-third and 50 percent for diners and taverns.
Thomas also recommended requiring larger lot areas to accommodate the increased number of parking space.
A 100-seat restaurant would require an additional 4,500 to 4,800 square feet of parking area.
The land use regulations require a maximum impervious surface coverage of 60 percent.
An additional 4,500 to 4,800 square feet of parking area surface would require an additional lot area of 7,500 to 8,000 square feet, according to information provided by municipal officials.
Although township administrators anticipate a need for additional parking at new restaurants, they don’t anticipate the need for many new commuter parking applications.
As a result, they are prepared to issue second permits.
According to Rita Lonky, deputy municipal clerk, the township has 817 parking spaces available, excluding 45 daily spots. She recommended issuing approximately 225 second permits.
She explained that a check of Schibanoff South shows more than 130 spaces available on any given day and about 70 spaces available at the Route 9 north lot.
"I believe we can offer second permits without fear of running out of spaces at the Schibanoff South lot only," Lonky said.
Township Administrator Tom Antus said Freehold Township is able to offer the second permits because the committee has done a good job managing growth.
"We are now confident that we can offer a limited number of second permits on a year-by-year basis," he said.
Lonky said the list of residents requesting second permits dates back to 1997 and has about 80 names on it.
She said Manalapan, Marlboro and Howell charge $100 per year and Freehold Borough charges $80 per year for a permit.
Freehold Township charges $45 per year, Antus said.
The committee is also considering adding occupancy limitations to the section of the Land Use Ordinance dealing with campgrounds.
Officials are looking at an ordinance from neighboring Jackson that puts limitations on camping from Nov. 1 to March 31, limits stays to 15 consecutive days and also caps any person from staying more than 240 days in a calendar year.
Guy Leighton, the assistant township planner, suggested that the committee consider similar limitations for camping in the township to avoid potential problems.
The only park where that is a consideration is the Pine Cone Campground on Georgia Road near the Howell border.
According to Antus, an ordinance was to be introduced last night that would limit the length of stay at the camp ground.