WEST MILFORD — A poll of the township council Wednesday night showed that next month's scheduled vote to eliminate the 2,500 foot distance limitation between liquor licenses will pass.
That will clear the way for the property owner who brought the issue to the council in May to proceed with her plan to open a restaurant that serves alcohol on Greenwood Lake Turnpike near Cottage Cove.
Elena Dykstra bought the property at 1934 Greenwood Lake Turnpike knowing the ordinance limiting liquor licenses to more than 2,500 feet of another. She asked the council to rescind Section 63-7 of the town code and allow alcohol to be served. Residents of the small Cottage Cove area were against it, saying they had endured awful conditions when the former bar at the site was in business. Owners of liquor licenses in the area also spoke against it.
This particular property is within 2,500 feet of three other licenses.
Councilwoman CarlLa Horton has said from the start she didn't see the point of the law and is on board to eliminate it. The state determines the number of liquor licenses in the town, which currently is 32; 25 are active, two are inactive and five are pocket licenses with no site assigned. The state recommends one license per 3,000 people. It has issued three times that number of licenses for West Milford.
Councilman Mike Hensley said he is in favor of changing the law.
"I see this as a vote - 'Are you pro-business or anti-business?'," Hensley said. "What we're talking about is reopening a business. I'm looking forward to us changing the climate of an anti-business town."
Councilwoman Ada Erik is the only member of the council opposed to changing the law.
The second reading of the ordinance and public hearing is set for the Dec. 17 meeting.
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