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Council introduces ordinance to streamline sidewalk cafes and 'streeteries'; sets public hearing and a $1,000 minimum for riverfront push-cart concession
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 2026-05 to replace separate sidewalk-cafe rules with a single chapter governing outdoor business extensions, move permitting to administrative approval, set streeteries at $1.25/sq ft, and amended a related concession resolution to set a $1,000 opening minimum for riverfront push-cart licenses.
The Red Bank Borough Council introduced Ordinance 2026-05, which would repeal Chapter 562 (sidewalk cafes and restaurants) and adopt Chapter 475 to create a unified permitting regime for outdoor business extensions including sidewalk cafes, street 'streeteries' and parking-space-based dining. Councilmembers described the measure as an attempt to simplify permitting and encourage downtown businesses to expand outdoor service.
Council members said the new chapter standardizes fees and moves approvals from council-by-resolution to an administrative review process. Under the proposal: sidewalk cafes would retain a $2-per-square-foot initial fee (removing a second-year fee increase), streeteries would be codified at a reduced $1.25-per-square-foot rate to compensate for lost parking space, and applications would receive departmental sign-offs from code, police, fire and traffic safety before manager approval.
Council discussed how the ordinance treats existing permanent outdoor dining (speakers said existing approvals would remain valid) and confirmed that property-owner (landlord) sign-off will be required on applications. Councilmembers highlighted the economic rationale: "we don't want to penalize the businesses that want to partake," a sponsor said, and noted the provision brings ad-hoc pandemic-era practices into a single code section.
Separately, council debated a new concession license for seasonal push-cart vendors at the borough's riverfront parks (Maple Cove, Riverside Gardens and Marine Park). After discussion of benchmarks from other municipalities, the council amended Resolution 26-58 to set a $1,000 opening minimum bid for the annual concession license (with a one-year license and a one-year option to extend). The amendment was approved and the amended resolution passed by roll call.
Public hearing for Ordinance 2026-05 was scheduled for March 12, 2026.
