The purpose of this chapter is to establish a procedure and
authorize rules and regulations thereunder for the licensing of outdoor
cafes in the Borough of East Rutherford.
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in
this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meanings
they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable
application. As used in this chapter, the following shall have the
meanings indicated:
ADJACENT BUILDING
The building whose principal facade fronts on the sidewalk
where the outdoor sidewalk cafes is or is proposed to be located.
FAST-FOOD ESTABLISHMENT
An establishment serving food for consumption by the public
on its premises, whether free or for cost and where such food is served
to seated or standing patrons on utensils manufactured of a nonpermanent
and/or nondurable material such as plastic, resin, paper or other
synthetic materials not intended or capable of reuse and such service
is not by waiters or waitresses employed exclusively for that purpose.
Fast-food restaurants are not permitted to be licensed under hot dog
stands, delicatessens, pizza parlor or other entities commonly referred
to as a fast-food restaurant or establishment, such as McDonald's,
Burger King, Nathan's, KFC or the like.
FURNITURE
Tables, chairs and servers normally associated with dining
activity. Except for table umbrellas, no establishment licensed under
this section shall use furniture fabricated or manufactured with materials
containing more than 25% of synthetic content such as plastic or resin.
Lawn furniture or the like is not permitted.
OUTDOOR CAFE
Any eating establishment where food and other refreshments
are served upon the public right-of-way, namely the sidewalks immediately
in front of any restaurant, cafe or place of business where food and/or
other refreshments are served or a public plaza immediately adjacent
to any restaurant, cafe or place of business where food and/or other
refreshments are served, or where permitted on private property pursuant
to the Land Use and Zoning Ordinances. Said outdoor area shall be
considered as part of the building structure and shall be limited
in use by patrons of the eating establishment. Consumption of permitted
alcoholic beverages in an outdoor cafe by patrons shall not be considered
in violation of state regulations and/or local ordinances prohibiting
the consumption of such beverages in open containers.
OUTDOOR CAFE ZONE
Paterson Avenue, from Hackensack Street west to Locust Lane;
Hackensack Street, from Paterson Avenue south to the Rutherford border;
Park Avenue, from Paterson Avenue south to Union Avenue railroad tracks;
Enoch Street, from Hoboken Road to Paterson Avenue; Hoboken Road,
from Enoch Street to Route 17; Route 17, southbound side, from Paterson
Plank Road to Stanley Street; Route 17, northbound side, from Union
Avenue to Paterson Plank Road.
[Amended 5-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-05]
OUTDOOR SIDEWALK CAFE
A restaurant, as defined herein, serving food to be consumed
by adult patrons seated at furniture located within that more-or-less-rectangular
portion of the sidewalk which lies within the area bounded by the
public street. The principal facade of the adjacent building and the
imaginary perpendicular lines running from the outer edge of such
principal facade to the public street.
PATRON, ADULT
A member of the general public aged 18 years old or older.
Except when accompanied by an adult patron, no member of the general
public under the age of 18 years old shall be permitted to be served
at any outdoor sidewalk cafe by any establishment licensed under this
section.
PERMITTED ZONES
Commercial zones, mixed commercial zones and light industrial zones, planned commercial development zones and Redevelopment-1 zones, all as defined in Chapter
389, Zoning, and as shown on the Zoning Map of the Borough of East Rutherford.
[Amended 5-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-05]
RESTAURANT
An establishment located within the adjacent building, the
primary activity of which is the preparation and serving of food for
consumption by adult patrons on its premises, whether free or for
cost and where the food to be consumed is served to adult patrons
seated at furniture by waiters or waitresses employed exclusively
for that purpose on utensils of permanent and durable material designed
and capable of being reused and shall include, but not be limited
to, a restaurant, hotel, coffee shop, tearoom, dining room, cafeteria,
luncheonette, soda fountain, sandwich shop and the like, but shall
not be a fast-food establishment as defined herein.
SIDEWALK
The paved surface provided for the exclusive use of pedestrians
and situated between, and extending from, any building to the curb
of any street. For the purpose of this section, the area normally
being the area between the paved sidewalk and the curb and surface
with cement, brick or stone pavers or any acceptable surface material
other than dirt and/or vegetation is considered to be part of the
sidewalk. Utensils, dinnerware, eating utensils such as knives, forks,
spoons, coffee or tea cups, drinking glasses, napkins, tablecloths
and the like.
No person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or organization
(hereinafter collectively referred to as "person") shall create, establish,
operate, maintain or otherwise be engaged in the business of conducting
an outdoor cafe upon the sidewalks or public plazas of the Borough
of East Rutherford, or on private property, unless such person shall
hold a currently valid license issued pursuant to the terms of this
chapter.
The Construction Official will review the application for completeness
and compliance with the terms of this chapter. If the application
is complete, the Construction Official will act upon the same within
10 business days of the submittal of the application or within 10
business days after the application becomes complete. If the application
is not complete, the Construction Official will so notify the applicant
within 10 business days of the submission and specifically detail
the areas in which the application lacks compliance with the requirements
of this chapter.
If the application complies with the chapter, the Construction
Official shall issue a license strictly subject to the terms and conditions
of this chapter. All outdoor sidewalk cafe licenses shall be issued
for the period commencing April 1 and ending November 30 of the particular
year. Licenses must be renewed annually by the filing of an application
in accordance with the provisions of this section.
The license is personal to the applicant and any change or transfer
of ownership of the outdoor cafe shall terminate the license and shall
require a new application and new license in conformance with all
of the requirements of this chapter.
Acceptance of the license by the applicant shall operate as
a consent to the health, fire, police and building officials of the
Borough to inspect the outdoor cafe for continued compliance with
the terms and conditions of this chapter and any federal, state, county
or local law, ordinance or regulations affecting the same.
No license required by this chapter shall be granted to any
person to operate an outdoor cafe until such person shall have filed
with the Construction Official agreement, at the option of the Borough,
to either repair at its sole cost and expense any damage caused to
the sidewalk by the operation of the cafe or to reimburse the Borough
in full for all costs and expenses incurred by it in making any such
repairs; to indemnify and hold harmless the Borough of East Rutherford,
its agent, servants, representatives or employees, from any or all
claims, damages, judgment costs or expenses, including attorneys fees,
which they or any of them may incur or be required to pay because
of any personal injury, including death, or property damage suffered
by any person or persons as a result of or related in any way to the
operation and maintenance of the outdoor cafe for which the license
is issued. Said maintenance and indemnification agreement shall be
in a form acceptable to the Borough Attorney.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or
by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 30 days,
or by both such fine and imprisonment; and each violation of any of
the provisions of this chapter and each day there is a violation thereof
shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.