The proposed ordinance focuses on practice that already exists
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
All restaurants in central Pennington — including non-full service restaurants —would be allowed to have tables for outdoor dining under a proposed ordinance introduced by a unanimous Pennington Borough Council vote Monday night.
Full-service restaurants, which employ waiters and waitresses, already are allowed outdoor dining under an existing ordinance.
Full-service restaurants in the borough include Avanti, which leases borough-owned land for its outdoor tables, and Za, both on West Delaware Avenue.
The proposed ordinance regulates a practice that already exists. Four downtown eateries — Vito’s Pizza, Sumo Sushi, Viva Gelato and Cup of Joe — already have a few tables on the sidewalk for outdoor dining. They are located on Main Street.
Councilman Weed Tucker said the impetus for the proposed ordinance was complaints about noise being made by the outdoor diners.
Under the proposed measure, which is expected to get a public hearing and be put to council adoption vote next month, non-full-service restaurants that have outdoor dining would have to keep the area for it clean and free of litter. Compliance with the borough noise ordinance also is required, the proposed ordinance states.
If the measure passes as expected, restaurants with outside tables would have to renew annually their permission to have outdoor dining. According to Mr. Tucker, there probably would be a fee for a permit, but the proposal does not prescribe one at this time.
Council could revoke the permit at any time.
Restaurant owners with outdoor tables also would be required to demonstrate they have adequate insurance and submit a drawing of their outdoor dining plans.
Those plans should be brought to the borough as soon as possible, Borough Attorney Walter Bliss said.
About the topic of right-of-way, the ordinance states: “The outdoor dining area shall be designed to preserve circulation on the site and any affected borough right-of-way while also protecting the safety of patrons and pedestrians.”