The Hoboken City Council approved continuing their outdoor parklet moratorium until July 17th due to public health concerns, such as rat infestations, at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“Elaborate a little further on the amendment to the moratorium. What exactly is the reason for the moratorium? Why is it beginning and ending at those specific times?” Manny Rivera Soler asked.
“We’ve had one application for a parklet that residents were not happy about. I suspect we have a lot more on the table moving forward. As a council, we have some different views on the approach we should take. This should give us some time to iron them out,” replied Council President Jen Giattino said.
Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour said she was under the impression someone was working with the Hoboken Business Alliance about the regulations for outdoor dining, which became very popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think that is worth the time. I’m starting to get concerned that the further we wait the longer we are delaying the opportunity for businesses in town to avail themselves of this. I want to be fair to the business community,” she said.
As 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen pointed out, the council approved a five-month parklet moratorium in November and that had just expired so further action was needed.
“One of the reasons we had the March 31st on the original moratorium was because the weather was going to get warmer,” 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen argued.
“By having this moratorium, the council is essentially preventing any business that’s interested in having this opportunity from even having a hearing on it. This is over broad. We should be giving the business community the option of having this. It’s permitted right now. It’s not to say we can’t do better.”
Cohen, who sits on the HBA board, reiterated that they still support regulating the parklets instead of a complete halt or ban.
“The City of Hoboken has seen few parklet complaints directly related to rodents even within 250 feet of the parklets,”he continued.
“We’re going to continue to have those discussions. We should be addressing the issue in a way that’s constructive and business-friendly … This moratorium shut that down. I don’t think that’s the goal here. That is the effect from my perspective,” he said.
First Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano noted that the council voted to ban parklets prior to him being elected in December, which Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla vetoed.
“We put a moratorium on it. We didn’t talk about it. Now something’s come up. We always tend to be reactive,” he argued.
Presinzano said 20 people complained about one, referring to the request from the Dear Maud restaurant and bar in his ward.
“The street eateries are removable. Our rat problem was crazy … We need someone to teach us before we make rules,” he continued, also indicating that their measure requiring lidded trash cans and other garbage regulations helped considerably.
“There was no discussion over the winter months,” he argued.
“That’s not true,” Cohen replied.
“I haven’t been involved in them. I attended a rat meeting with volunteers. It should have been brought to our attention,” Presinzano pressed on. He said this measure would give them 90 days to reevaluate things.
“We want to be supportive of our businesses,” 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said, noting that she’d like make parklets a permanent fixture in the city, but public health must come first.
“We had issues with rats last year. There are rat sightings all around parklets across the city. We’re in the beginning of rat season. People are seeing rats again.There’s an opportunity for us to revisit this. I don’t disagree we’re going to miss a peak season. But it’s one of many. It doesn’t preclude a restaurant from having a streatery.”
The Hoboken City Council passed the moratorium 7-2, with Cohen and Councilman-at-Large Joe Quintero voting no.
