Longport's half-block-long commerical district includes a real estate office and two restaurants.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT The Board of Commissioners Wednesday, May 19 approved two bond ordinances to fund nearly $5 million in capital projects, but a discussion regarding erecting a large temporary dining tent in the Commercial District drew more attention from commissioners and the public.
Bond Ordinance 2022-05 appropriates $3.3 million for equipment purchases for the Police, Fire, Beach Patrol and Public Works departments, ocean and bayside bulkhead construction, improvements to the firehouse and Public Works building, roadway reconstruction and storm drainage work on Winchester Avenue, as well as various other improvements to the borough's parks and recreation.
Resident Bob English lamented the borough removing from the ordinance funding to purchase a new fire apparatus, which could take as long as two years to deliver to the Longport Volunteer Fire Department.
Bonding appropriates spending for certain purposes, but items and programs are not funded until the borough borrows the money from a bank.
English said that the fire truck purchase should have been included in the bond ordinance because it will take as long as two years to develop specifications, build the truck and have it delivered to the borough, and therefore the borough would not have to pay the cost of borrowing for several years.
Although officials have questioned the long-term viability of the all-volunteer fire department, English advocated to fund the purchase.
If you are concerned about the long-term viability of the fire department, why are we spending money on the firehouse? he said.
A second bond ordinance appropriates $1.6 million for improvements to the municipal water and sewer system, including replacing laterals, painting the smiley-faced water tower and maintaining two wells.
The commissioners spent most of their workshop meeting discussing a request from the owners of Ozzie's Luncheonette and Catch restaurant to erect a dining tent on the sidewalk in front of their businesses. The restaurants want to continue offering outdoor dining under a large tent, as they have for the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although COVID-19 cases are on the rise locally, the state has relaxed its indoor dining and masking requirements. To assist restaurant owners who claim the pandemic caused them hardship, Longport and other Downbeach communities allowed them to erect tents on public property and in the rights-of-way to make up for the 25% indoor dining limitation. NJ Gov. Phil Murphy has lifted those restrictions, but the restaurant owners say many of their customers still feel safer dining outdoors.
Longport already has an ordinance that permits outdoor dining through an application process, which requires review by the appropriate public safety authorities, but it does not allow wedding-styled tents on public property. The commission was seeking an agreement that would, according to Mayor Nicholas Russo, marry outdoor seating, aesthetics and public safety.
The task at hand was for the commissioners to decide if they would allow a tent to be erected again this summer.
The commissioners and business owners Lekie Nika of Ozzie's Luncheonette and Joe Tucker of Catch discussed the law that requires at least 4.5 feet for the public to traverse the sidewalk. In 2020 and 2021, they erected concrete barriers in the street to provide a pathway for pedestrians, wheelchairs, people with strollers and service dogs, but the borough lost seven parking spaces.
Nika presented the commissioners with a petition signed by approximately 300 local and Downbeach residents requesting the tents be allowed.
The commissioners want the parking area restored this year and a path for pedestrians to cross the two commercial properties. Dickering over details, such as aesthetics, the size of the tent and where the public pathway would be located, the commissioners ultimately resolved to allow the tent. However, they left it up to the borough's Zoning Officer, and Police and Fire Departments to ensure it meets all the appropriate safety standards.
The resolution states the use is temporary and may be revoked at any time by the Borough Administrator, and that the restaurants must comply with all aspects of the borough code for outdoor dining.
Commissioner Dan Lawler said the borough has future plans for reconstruction of Atlantic Avenue that includes installing bollards at each of the seven parking spots, which would provide additional protection from the angled parking spaces in front of the borough's three commercial businesses.
In the future, the borough would like to see a more permanent solution for outdoor dining, such as installation of more aesthetically pleasing awnings at the two restaurants.
The board also continued a discussion about allowing responsible pet owners to walk their dogs on the beach between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. during the summer season, like Ventnor City's ordinance that allows dogs on the beach area washed by the high-tide line from 7-9 p.m. during the summer season.
Solicitor Michael Affanato was charged with coming up with an amendment to the borough's existing code, which prohibits dogs on the beach during the summer.
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