FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Municipal officials in Freehold Township have created an emergency approval process to allow more efficient coronavirus testing and vaccine administration in the municipality.
On March 9, Township Committee members authorized the temporary, emergency approval process for temporary operations and activities related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, effective immediately.
A resolution passed by the committee states that these operations and activities are anticipated to ensure a healthy pathway to recovery, while following social distancing and current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that will help contain and mitigate the spread of the virus.
According to the resolution, related temporary operations and activities will include coronavirus testing operations, coronavirus vaccine administration operations, and any other temporary activities, both indoor and outdoor, in areas where this may not be a permitted use, but supports the continued assurance of public health.
Through the resolution, the governing body authorized Zoning Officer Todd Brown to implement an abbreviated and emergency application process allowing businesses to quickly, safely and efficiently use indoor and outdoor areas for operations consistent with temporary operations and activities medically related to the coronavirus.
The operations and activities will take place in any area, regardless of whether those operations are a permitted use in a specific location, according to municipal officials.
According to the resolution, the process for the abbreviated application will result in an approval by the zoning officer of temporary and emergency zoning permission to conduct the required operations indoors, outdoors, in parking areas, grassed areas and drives, so long as they are consistent with the safety of the public and all patrons, and any promulgated executive order.
The zoning officer will consult with the township engineer, township administrator,
police chief, fire official and health officer to ensure consistency with his determination
of safety, according to the resolution.
The approvals, according to the resolution, will end by the zoning officer’s order or the expiration of Gov. Phil Murphy’s emergency declaration regarding the pandemic, which declared a public health emergency and a state of emergency in New Jersey. Murphy’s executive order was issued one year ago and remains in place at this time.