By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Following a successful first outing in the summer of 2015, Asbury Park’s food truck park is expected to open again this year, only with extended hours.
The food truck park location is at the north end of the boardwalk.
Carrie Turner of beachfront developers Madison Marquette made a presentation to the City Council at this week’s work session requesting that the food trucks be allowed to operate for two additional hours each day, adding on an hour at the beginning and end of each day.
The new hours of operation, if approved, will be from 10 am. to 10 p.m.
The Planning Board approved the new hours and now council has to approve the change before it is brought back to the board.
Turner said when the proposal was presented to the planning board they approved the change and also added four more years to the original two year contract. He asked the council to recommend that change as well to the Planning Board.
The food truck vendors wanted to stay open longer to be able to compete with the pop up vendors further down the boardwalk.
“They want to mimic other boardwalk businesses,” Turner said.
At a recent homeowners meeting of North Beach Asbury residents who live near the park, Turner said comments regarding the food trucks were positive.
“There was nothing negative; they were glad there was a presence there,” Turner said.
In other business City Manager Michael Capabianco said the city will no longer be using the obsolete BOCA Code regulations for code enforcement and adopting the use of the International Building Code which is newer and stricter.
Capabianco said the BOCA code was last used globally in 1999.
Some elements of the new code include requiring doors and trim to be painted as well as hinges.
“It’s a higher standard for housing stock…this code is updated every few years,” Capabianco said.
Capabianco said the new code ordinance should be ready for introduction in March or April.
The city manager also said he met with the landlords association and their only concern is that the codes will be enforced equally.
Capabianco also said the Quality of Life Committee is forming a sub committee to oversee the new code structure.
Councilman Joe Woerner reported that the shade tree commission has plans to reduce the geese population at Sunset Lake by oiling geese eggs and planting grasses that impede nesting.
Plans also call for floating gardens in the lake that pull nutrients out of the water and installing electricity on the lake so aerators and a fountain can be installed.
Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said the commission is seeking grant funding for the projects.
Capabianco also said he was meeting with Geese Chasers this week to discuss reduction of the geese population.
He said he has worked with the company in the past and they do a “fantastic job at half the price.”
During public comments Sunset Avenue resident Jim Henry commented on the new code regulations and said property owners on Asbury Avenue should be embarrassed about the state of their property.
“It’s the gateway to our city,” he said.
City Historian Werner Baumgartner said the lighting being used on Asbury Avenue by many business is too bright.
“The lighting on Asbury Avenue is garish…businesses should stop blinding motorists with their lighting,” he said.
With the threat of more snow in the area Ridge Avenue resident Denise Richardson suggested entering into a shared services agreement with Neptune Township for use of their large trucks for plowing.
“Neptune has the big trucks,” she said.
