Proposal would lift most limits on retailers, restaurants after Memorial Day
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – On May 5, a task force headed by Freeholder Vice Director Leonard Desiderio and Freeholder Will Morey sent a proposal to Gov. Phil Murphy on reopening the economy in Cape May County in steps.
Most of the reopening steps come after Memorial Day weekend, a concession that the traditional holiday weekend at the shore used to usher in the official tourist season is not going to happen.
“I don’t begrudge Cape May County for trying to lay a plan out,” Murphy said Thursday, May 7, at his daily COVID-19 briefing in Trenton. “Tourism is a huge part of their economic reality. We respect that. Understand that. We want to do everything we can, responsibly, to support it.” While pointing out that beaches and boardwalks remain the domain of local decisions, the governor has still not laid out any timeline for removing restrictions on businesses.
Freeholders talked with the governor’s chief of staff last week and were to talk with the governor’s office again Tuesday.
Desiderio, who noted the task force spent “many, many, many hours” working, said the initial response from the governor’s office was that it was an “A1 report” and they would be discussing it more with county officials.
“The most important thing is we have a dialogue now. There is an open dialogue between Cape May County and the governor’s office,” Desiderio said. “And I know this report is going across the state. Other counties are looking at it and other legislators … I personally got calls from freeholders and freeholder directors from throughout the state asking me about this report we did. They would like copies.”
He pointed out the full proposal may only work for Cape May and Atlantic counties because of the tourism-based economies, but there is “a lot of good stuff in there” for other businesses including restaurants and retailers.”
Major aspects in the Cape May County plan require the governor to rescind or change his order from May 5 that extended restrictions from the state of emergency into the first week of June. Those restrictions have kept most retailers in New Jersey shuttered, entertainment and public facilities closed, and restaurants limited to takeout.
Mayors across the county have recently started to allow greater access to beaches and promenades for passive recreation but when retailers and restaurants can start allowing customers inside fall under state guidelines.
At the shore, shopping, dining and entertainment are the lifeblood of the business/tourism community.
“The Proposal for the Safe, Thoughtful and Progressive Reopening of Cape May County in the Time of Covid” was put together by a Business Recovery Task Force led by Desiderio and Morey that includes business and industry leaders, mayors from throughout the county and support staff. The proposal points out the county generates more than $6 billion in direct tourism revenue each year and more than $500 million in state sales tax and local use taxes.
The revenue comes from food and beverage, $1.536 billion; retail, $1.28 billion; second-home rentals, $2.196 billion; and recreation, $771.4 million, according to 2018 figures.
The proposal also leverages the fact that Cape May County has been the second-least affected county in New Jersey by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of positive cases and deaths. South Jersey as a whole has much lower numbers than either central Jersey or north Jersey, which was hit the hardest. Cape May County had a fraction of a single percentage in a state that has seen more than 137,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 9,100 deaths.
Here are the guidelines for reopening in Cape May County’s proposal:
– Hotels and motels could begin operating at 60 percent capacity as of June 1 and go to full capacity on June 22.
– Residential rentals, with duration over 30 days, would begin May 11, and allow rentals of fewer than 30 days starting June 1.
– Beaches would be fully open for active and passive recreation on June 1, subject to social distancing guidelines including limiting groups to no more than 10 people and suggesting that beach patrols add additional lifeguards stands to keep people from “clumping” around the stands and to spread the people out in the water.
– The Wildwood boardwalk is already open with restrictions for essential businesses. Active recreation would be allowed at all county boardwalks starting May 11, with social distancing. On June 1, the Boardwalks and related businesses would open for full use. “All public and business facilities related to boardwalk opening would be subject to industry protocols and best practices for social distancing, personal protective equipment, sanitation, disinfection and employee monitoring,” the proposal reads.
– Campgrounds opened for seasonal visitors on May 2. The county suggests opening them to short-term visitors on June 1.
– Bars, wineries, breweries and distilleries have been open for the sale of package goods and takeout. As of May 26, they would be allowed to open at 75 percent of fire code capacity for outdoor service similar to restaurant dining. Social distancing would be enforced – no dance floor use or other uses that would lead to people congregating. Service would cease at midnight. As of June 1, they could open for indoor service limited to 65 percent capacity with the same limitations on social distancing.
– Restaurants, which have been open for takeout only, could have outdoor dining at 75 percent capacity as of May 26, and as of June 1 would open for indoor dining at 65 percent capacity.
– Retail would have phased-in reopening starting May 11 with selling items for pickup. On June 1, indoor retail shopping would be allowed, but businesses would have to ensure social distancing and controlling the number of patrons to keep them six feet apart. They also would be allowed to have some outdoor placement of items for sale. Retail operators would have ensure employees and customers are wearing masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment.
– On May 11, all outdoor parks, playgrounds and recreation areas would be open for active recreation with social distancing.
– All other municipal facilities would open June 1 or as local conditions dictate.
The freeholders stressed this remains a proposal that needs the governor’s approval.