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Bernardsville board clarifies café conditions on deliveries and employee parking
Summary
The Bernardsville board on Jan. 23, 2025 adopted a memorialization that tightened language about deliveries (permitting them only during off‑hours defined as when the restaurant is closed) and broadened employee‑parking options to allow off‑site nonpublic parking rather than naming two specific lots.
The Bernardsville board (meeting body not specified in the transcript) on Jan. 23, 2025 adopted a memorialization that modified conditions for a proposed café, clarifying when deliveries are allowed and expanding where employees may park.
Board professionals told members that condition 3 should specify that "pickup from and deliveries to the property shall be permitted during off‑hours only," and recommended adding language to define "off‑hours" more precisely (for example, "when the restaurant is closed") to prevent inconsistent interpretation. A board professional said the clarification would prevent misunderstandings about the 12‑hour reference in the draft condition.
Members also debated condition 8, which originally required all café employees to park off site and listed two specific private options for that off‑site parking. Several board members and the professional argued that limiting the condition to two named lots might be unduly restrictive. The board agreed to broaden the language to permit "off‑site nonpublic parking" or other private off‑site options rather than limiting the applicant to one or two specific properties, while retaining the intent that employees not occupy public on‑street spaces.
The memorialization also revised condition 5, which requires the applicant to obtain permission to remove impervious area on an adjacent parcel; the professional recommended the condition be worded to require permission from the owner of the adjacent property (or New Jersey Transit, if applicable).
Following the discussion the board moved to adopt the memorialization as modified. The transcript records that, "aside from Mr. DeMarco, all other members in attendance voted on this resolution," and the motion carried as modified.
Next steps: the memorialization closes the current file in accordance with the court order discussed during the meeting; the applicant may return with revised plans and the matter will be renoticed and reheard when required.
