PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee approved the renewal of the local liquor license for the Deauville Inn despite objections from a group of Strathmere residents.
In doing so, the committee on Monday also declined to tie local zoning law to the liquor license in a way that makes it reportable to the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Residents outlined what one person, who wished not to be named, called “the same core problems” – excessive noise, alcohol leaving the premises, and “other enforcement issues.” This resident said the Deauville is also responsible for increased traffic, particularly at nights and on weekends. She also highlighted numerous parking issues, including patrons partially or fully blocking private driveways.
“Neighbors have called parking enforcement and the State Police when access is blocked, but tickets and tows are rare, and the same conditions return the next weekend,” she said.
During committee comments, Mayor Curtis Corson said the New Jersey State Police, which provide police services for Upper Township, are patrolling the Strathmere section of the township daily between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. Committeeman Zach Palombo said the NJSP had just written a ticket for driving while intoxicated in the Strathmere area. Corson said, admittedly, police presence might have been a little light this weekend with the NJSP helping out with the Barefoot Country Music Fest taking place over the weekend. The music festival was expected to draw some 50,000 people to the Wildwoods over the weekend.
The residents summed up the nature of their complaints, saying there is “no practical way to monitor these conditions in real time.”
“These conditions” included Deauville patrons carrying open containers of alcohol off the premises, specifically mentioning the area of the Sand Bar and adjacent beach entrance. Neighbors and Deauville management differed on the level of security and monitoring of such activities.
Adam Modder, chief operating officer for Willard Liquor LLC, which does business as the Deauville Inn, said there are normally a dozen security personnel on site during the busy hours, and with the exception of shift changes there is someone advising patrons not to leave the premises with open containers. Dottie McCrosson, attorney for the Deauville, told the committee that Deauville employees can only advise patrons of the rules.
“The (employee) at the property line can only tell them what to do; they can’t touch them, or tackle them … they can only advise them,” she said.
The committee asked Modder to describe how the employee might handle this situation. He said the employee would likely say, “Excuse me,” and direct the patron’s attention to signs indicating prohibitions on carrying open containers of alcohol off the premises.
Along with open container violations, the neighbors’ chief complaint was noise. One resident played a video recording from a cell phone which recorded music that could be heard from their living room, which is about a football field in distance away from the Deauville. The lyrics of the song played were easily discerned. Modder said the sound level of their amplifiers was measured by decibel meters, which show it to be in compliance. McCrosson added that the video recording was taken mid-afternoon, when the township’s noise ordinance is not in effect.
Three members of the committee ultimately voted to approve the license renewal. Committeeman Sam Palombo was absent, and Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen abstained.
– STORY and PHOTO by CHRISTOPHER SOUTH/For the Sentinel
At top, Dottie McCrosson, attorney for the Deauville Inn, left, is joined by Deaville COO Adam Modder, to answer questions from the Upper Township Committee regarding the business’s liquor license renewal. The committee approved the license for another year.