The Neptune City Borough Council has introduced an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals.
If approved, the ordinance would permit rentals for a minimum of seven days or more from May 15 through Sept. 30.
During the rest of the year, rentals would not be permitted for periods of less than 30 days.
The duration restrictions would not apply in the case of multifamily dwelling units as long as the owner personally resides in one of the units during the term of the short-term rental.
Persons wishing to offer short-term rentals would be required to register with the borough and pay an annual fee of $300.
Mayor Andrew Wardell said the borough wants to allow “those who are looking to take advantage of the opportunity to rent their homes out” while at the same time protecting the interests of neighboring property owners.
The ordinance includes capacity limits, procedures for inspections, and handling complaints.
A public hearing on the proposed ordinance will take place at a future meeting before final approval is given.
Also introduced when the council met this week was an ordinance to allow restaurants to continue offering outdoor dining and beverage service.
Councilman Glen Kocsis, who chairs the borough’s law and ordinance committee, led the effort to extend outdoor dining, which was implemented to help support local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Both ordinances were introduced by unanimous votes.
New Condominium Units Discussed
The council also adopted a third ordinance for a redevelopment plan for the former East Coast Ice property and another nearby lot.
The plan now goes to the borough’s Land Use Board for review. Just less than a year ago, the board adopted the recommendation of borough planner Jennifer Beahm that the sites be declared as a “non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment.”
The ordinance introduced this week would adopt the plan “to establish development standards for designated redeveloper(s)” in the specified lots at 96 Laird Ave. and 87 Rosewood Place.
Wardell said a developer has expressed interest in building a small number of condominium units with off-street parking in the area.
Board of Education President Anthony Susino reported that the local school district has lost $325,000 in state aid. Susino said four positions were lost as a result but no one was put out of work by the cuts.
He said that although a media specialist position was put on hold, teachers at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School have taken the initiative to improve the library in the meantime. The borough library has donated a number of books and further book k drive efforts are planned.
The borough’s new veterans committee will hold its first meeting at 6 p.m. on Mon., April 18 at the municipal building.
Borough Administrator Al Jardine reported that Neptune City has received 2018 property tax credits from the state for 30 homeowners. He said the cuts will be reflected in property tax bills which are currently being prepared.
