The governing body introduced an ordinance (O-18-22) during its May meeting that would amend the sidewalk cafe ordinance. The measure will come up for a public hearing and final adoption at the City Council‘s next regular meeting, on Monday. UPDATED: City Council unanimously approved the measure by a 7-0 vote, with two members absent (5th Ward Councilwoman Danni Newbury and 1st Ward Councilman Rodney Farrar).

The outdoor sidewalk cafe season would begin a month earlier, April 1 rather than May 1, under the proposed ordinance. It typically runs until Nov. 1 and licenses are issued annually, starting Jan. 1.

The bill also would reduce the space required for pedestrians from 5 feet to 4 feet. “No furniture, apparatus, decoration or appurtenance used in connection with the operation of the outdoor sidewalk cafe shall be located in such a way that less than 4 feet of paved, unobstructed sidewalk remains for the exclusive use of pedestrians,” according to the proposed ordinance. “Required unobstructed sidewalks may not contain barriers, trees, grass areas, signs, utility poles or similar.”

In the past two years, towns across New Jersey and beyond — including Rahway — opened new outdoor areas to food establishments and/or closed off streets to help restaurants get through the pandemic. Some municipalities are looking to eliminate the new outdoor dining areas and ad-hoc public plazas that have been created, according to this recent story by nj.com (Are towns making a mistake axing outdoor dining as COVID rages on?)