PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee, at its June 8 meeting, approved a provision to allow local businesses to start providing outside dining and retail sales, in line with Gov. Phil Murphy’s latest executive order permitting the next phase of activity related to COVID precautions.
Solicitor Daniel Young noted that ordinarily, this type of activity would require a lengthy ordinance process, but under municipal emergency measures where “necessary, appropriate and desirable” factors are present, zoning and other permissions can be quickly implemented.
Municipal Engineer Paul Dietrich informed Committee that, as of June 15, businesses could serve customers up to 50% of their original pre-COVID indoor capacity.
“Furthermore,” added Dietrich, “ordinarily we would require professional site plans as to the set-up of these arrangements, but since we want to make sure businesses don’t incur any additional fees, such as professional engineer consultancy, we are going to be very practical, and they can just sketch out what they have in mind. For their plans, we are mainly looking at safety and health considerations.”
Upper Township Business Association President Blanche Adams expressed “great appreciation” for “all that Mayor (Richard) Palombo and committee are doing to get our businesses up and running.”
