Madison Hotel cleared to use rear patio year-round with lights and speakers under conditions

The Morris Township Planning Board on March 3 approved a modification to a prior patio approval at the Madison Hotel that allows string lights, three ground‑level speakers and portable heaters and permits year‑round patio use, subject to conditions requiring speakers be turned off by 10 p.m., lights by 11 p.m., and a post‑occupancy acoustical study involving the township health director.

The change was presented by Linda Herlicki of Ryker Danzig, counsel for CHC Madison Project Owner LLC, and testified to by Michael Murray, the hotel’s general manager. Herlicki told the board the applicant sought “greater flexibility in the use of the patio” and that the equipment proposed are typical, consumer‑grade items: “The string lights are similar to what you may have in your backyard,” and the speakers are “typical backyard Bluetooth type speakers.” Murray testified the speakers are…