Beach Haven Council plans to take down tent ordinance amendment, limiting events to four

In response to complaints regarding the disturbances stemming from tent affairs held outdoors throughout Beach Haven’s residential neighborhoods, the Beach Haven Borough Council announced Monday that the events would most likely be limited back to four per site.

This summer the council approved an ordinance amendment that allows a limit of eight tent permits per site per year, an increase from the previous four. The amendment also allocates a limit of seven additional permits to be granted upon written approval. This increase in events, coupled with symptomatic issues such as noise, disruption and parking matters, particularly near 101 Centre St., a former bed and breakfast that is often rented out for wedding parties, has been the main concern for many surrounding neighbors.

Photo via Google
The number of allowable events had been
increased earlier this year.

Mayor Robert Keeler said Beach Haven currently hosts over 200 weddings a year, which represents about $6 million coming into the local economy. Still, he said it was always the plan to reconsider the ordinance amendment at the end of the season if it became a “severe problem” for the town.

Local residents continued to debate the issue during Monday’s open council meeting. Some individuals, many of whom spoke at last month’s meeting, reinforced their concerns and commended the council for rethinking the increase in events.

Kathy Chang, who lives across the street from the property in contention, said attendants at the outdoor tent events are sometimes spilling into the streets because the “music is so loud.”

Councilwoman Nancy Taggart Davis, who also lives in the area, said she has tried not to be at home during these events due to the noise.

“At times it’s just unbearable; it’s piercing,” she said.

However, she said she believes there needs to be a compromise.

Keeler, who asked that the neighbors be “a little more tolerant,” said he has personally tried to keep the event noise at bay on various occasions, even though “these weddings were not out of control.”

“It is so quiet in the off-season that it is extremely difficult with no music not to have people get upset,” he explained.

The council stated it is currently working with an attorney to create a more concise noise ordinance.

Deeming it more of a noise issue that needs to be better enforced, other residents at the meeting said they thought capping the tent affairs at four would negatively impact other area businesses, which would ultimately affect the local economy as well as the many people who have already planned their weddings in the area.

John Harvey, who owns a second home on Second Street, said he and his wife moved to that location because of the “vibrancy and energy of the area.”

Kitty Snyder, who lives on Berkeley Avenue, said she believed limiting the tent events would hinder the “charm” the weddings bring to the area.

Many residents urged the council not to rush the decision.

Belen Flores, who owns the home at 101 Centre St., said she had not been directly notified about the problem and felt she was being “singled out.”

“It doesn’t have to come to this. It doesn’t have to come to the government to take care of it,” she said.

She said she would try to monitor the situation, but said it was essential that other venues follow the same rules.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.