Washington House Wants To Make Dining Tent Permanent In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Washington House is looking to make its more than 5,000 square-foot outdoor dining tent, which was added as a solution during the COVID pandemic, a permanent structure.

The applicant Finley Real Estate, LLC, which owns the restaurant at 55 South Finley Ave., is seeking multiple variances to allow the 50-foot-wide by 100-foot-long tent to become a permanent fixture in downtown Basking Ridge.

A public hearing had initially been set for March 17 but was carried to May 4 due to "unexpected circumstances" by the applicant, said Bernards Township Board of Adjustment Chairwoman Jeanmarie Genirs.

The dining tent, which totals 5,208 square feet, will bring the total floor area on the site to 13,316 square feet or 85.6 percent floor area ratio. It would also reduce the number of off-street parking spots by 23.

The existing restaurant has a capacity of 174 seats of which 150 are indoors and 24 outdoors. If the tent is made permanent it will have 164 dining seats. In addition to the existing bluestone patio that seats 12 it will bring the total restaurant capacity to 350 seats.

The tent is the latest addition to the restaurant's lavish outdoor dining area. It comes with radiant flooring, a luxury bathroom, overhead lighting, ventilation, and trees for the atmosphere.

The applicant is seeking three variances:

1. A variance for the maximum floor ratio of 85.6 percent when the ordinance only allows a maximum of 25 percent.
2. A variance to allow 36 parking spaces where the ordinance requires 216 spaces.
3. A variance for rear yard setback for 3.2 feet where the ordinance requires a minimum of 10 feet.

To see the entire application click here.

The meeting will be held in person on May 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bernards Township Municipal Buiding, Warren Craft Meeting Room, at 1 Collyer Lane. In addition, the public will be able toview the meeting live on Optimum/Cablevision TV – Channel 15 and Verizon FIOS TV – Channel 35 or online at bernards.org/boards/zone.

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