Entertainment Ordinance To Be Re-Introduced Wednesday

By • Jan 10th, 2012 • Category: Blog, News

Jersey City will again consider amending the outdated Entertainment Ordinance at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting after disagreements over enforcement capability and permitted hours derailed the proposal almost a month ago. The ordinance, which would allow live music to be performed in restaurants located in neighborhood commercial districts such as “Restaurant Row,” is seen as a necessary step for growing Jersey City’s nightlife.

At the meeting last month, Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop had argued that the ordinance, which would allow many more establishments to have live music, failed to account for the limited enforcement capability of the city (there are only two decibel readers). He also argued that after speaking with neighborhood groups– such as the Village Neighborhood Group, Harsimus Cove Association, Historic Paulus Hook Association, among others– he felt the permitted hours of entertainment extended too late into the evening.

The city, however, says enforcement problems have been hashed out with Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey, and the ordinance will be re-introduced with the permitted hours initially proposed. According to Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce Director Carl Czaplicki, Jersey City police department’s non-emergency number is the first call residents should make in case of a noise complaint. Currently only three members of the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce are certified to use the two readers, but that soon a few police officers will also be trained.

Harsimus Cove Association president Stephen Musgrave and Village Neighborhood Association’s president Rob Crow have worked with Czaplicki following the council’s disagreements last month and say most of their concerns have been addressed. Still, at least one concern remains for the groups. According to Musgrave, the neighborhood groups were looking for the city to establish a means for residents to anonymously call in noise complaints. The problem for the city is that the decibel readings have to be taken from where the complaint is made. Musgrave says the city is currently looking into how to solve this problem in time for Wednesday’s meeting.

With the community groups’ approval of the current draft, Fulop says he has no problem voting for the measure.

“It was important to me that the community concerns were addressed and seems to now be the case so this is a big improvement from my standpoint,” he said.

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  • Anonymous

    finally a step in the right direction, it could be better, its not the end, but its progress.  hopefully now, administrative (business administrator) variance authority has been removed and all variances go the through zoning board (residents).  thank you Rob Crow (Village) and Stephen Musgrave (Harsimus) for commitment, diligence and patience in helping to get this to where we are – both in the opportunities offered and protections/enforcement getting in place.

    no “rock club” yet, but I that this is more due to the lack of entrepreneurs willing/having the capital or interest (for this). 

    to all, ask your council member to vote yes!

  • http://profiles.google.com/pferm201 Patrick Fermin

    this is better, i just still feel the zoning will limit actually having any clubs or true concert venues for independent artists. still this is standing on better ground. I just don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with those establishments staying open so late if its mainly on commercial streets. that like saying people have a problem with the hours of musicians playing in Times Square.

    Couldn’t the city just enforce that these same establishments have sound-proof walls and other noise containing work done? I know it can be costly to the owners so its understandable if they can’t. I just dont understand the logic of moving to one of the most densely populated cities in america near one of the city’s busiest streets and expect it to be quiet. Not critizing their need for tranquility, just the point of looking for it in a noisy city.

    And if i were too exaggerate things i would prefer people still out at night. The way i see it, most violent crimes in this city are committed when no one is around or there are no witnesses. I feel if we actually have a nightlife and people moving around at all hours there is a chance of less crime. That, coupled with police work could help lower crime, jsut like in new york city

  • Anonymous

    this is coming for vote and approval (2nd reading) tomorrow, January 25th and hopefully will be approved.

    the clause granting authority to the city’s Business Administrator to grant minor variances remains (but further restricted) and perhaps can be addressed in the future.  the ordinance creates more opportunities for live entertainment, while providing increased protections from past zoning mistakes.

  • http://profiles.google.com/pferm201 Patrick Fermin

    if this ordinance passes where can i retrieve the live entertainment document for my own reading if i am not able to attend the meetings, city hall?