Iron Bar pitches rooftop dining for jobs, downplays noise concerns

Morristown virtual hearing on Iron Bar expansion, March 29, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin
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A rooftop dining area requested by the Iron Bar would be more than a place to grab a burger and a beer, the bar’s lawyer told the Morristown council on Monday.

“Our theme is opportunity,” said Robert C. Williams. “This is an opportunity for your community to preserve the employment at the Iron Bar/ Revolution, and hopefully allow us to employ more people at this location.”

That pandemic pitch kicked off three hours of Zoom testimony by the Iron Bar’s architect, noise analyst and general manager. More testimony, and questions from the council and public, are scheduled for April 12, 2021.

Revised Iron Bar rooftop plan, at Morristown virtual hearing on Iron Bar expansion, March 29, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

Jimmy Cavanaugh, owner of the Iron Bar and the adjoining Revolution beer hall on South Street, seeks permission to expand that shared liquor license onto the roof.

His expansion, dubbed “Rooftop,” is supported by fans of Morristown’s nightlife, and opposed by residents wary of more noise and spillover problems from downtown bars.

The proposal has been tweaked to address some of those concerns, said architect Carolyn Young.

Rooftop seating would decrease from 150 seats to 134, and standing room occupancy has been eliminated. A 10-foot high sound barrier would be erected facing South Street, where objector Joe Lobozzo owns apartments.

Signs would remind patrons to keep their voices down. Williams said Cavanaugh also would agree to rooftop conditions including no food or beverages after 11 pm, no music or cooking, and nobody under 21 without a parent or guardian.

Total occupancy would not exceed the 1,046-customer joint maximum for the Iron Bar and Revolution, added Williams, who noted that neither venue has been cited for any violations of state or local laws.

Eric Zwerling trains noise enforcement officers as director of a Rutgers University program. Rooftop dining at the Iron Bar “not only won’t be a nuisance—I don’t think it’s going to be audible” to residents on South Street and 40 West Park Place, he testified.

But his expert witness status was questioned by the council. Town Assistant Attorney Elnardo Webster II eventually allowed testimony from Zwerling, who has 30 years’ experience but is not a licensed engineer.

Sound analyst Eric Zwerling testifies  at Morristown virtual hearing on Iron Bar expansion, March 29, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

Noise from Rooftop will fall below ambient sound levels in virtually all circumstances, Zwerling predicted.

However, he did not calculate the combined impact of ambient- and dining noise, he acknowledged under questioning by Webster.

Nor did he factor in clanking plates, rustling chairs, elevator noise, or sounds from cars of patrons coming to Iron Bar to enjoy the rooftop, Zwerling said during cross-examination by Matthew Moench, Lobozzo’s lawyer.

And Zwerling’s readings were taken on weekday afternoons in February and March, not on weekend evenings — when residents’ sleep might be disturbed by rooftop diners. Zwerling explained that weekends were quiet because of COVID and winter; sampling night noise levels would not accurately reflect pre-pandemic patterns.

Moench intends to present testimony from his own noise specialist next month.

The rooftop addition could spur a doubling of jobs at the Iron Bar, said General Manager Darrell Remlinger. He estimated it will take 15- to 20 people to staff the roof.

Matthew Moench, attorney for objector Joe Lobozzo, at Morristown virtual hearing on Iron Bar expansion, March 29, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

Moench was incredulous the Iron Bar would pour money (a “tremendous expense,” Williams said) into Rooftop without aiming to increase the number of patrons.

Remlinger described the roof as a COVID alternative to congested sidewalk dining, an opportunity “to get everybody off the streets and into a more comfortable, relaxed environment for a seated dining experience.”

Young, the project architect, expressed a similar view.

“This could be a really pleasant, aesthetically pleasing area to gather, in a nice environment, in a green space, without being at street level with the hustle and bustle of traffic,” she said.

Council President Stefan Armington, who Cavanaugh is suing in a related dispute, recused himself from the special meeting. Councilman Michael Elms was absent. The council doubles as the town’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board.

Locations of sound readings by consultant Eric Zwerling, for Iron Bar rooftop expansion, at Morristown virtual hearing, March 29, 2021. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

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5 COMMENTS

  1. Yeah the Tashmoo ‘expansion’ is ridiculous. It is a totally separate entity.

    I agree this expansion for Iron Bar is justified because they are not increasing capacity, just adjusting to the way people want to eat and drink. This is no different than eating on the sidewalk or street.

    Also– does anyone know if the Walsh brothers plan on putting signage outside Homestead? Or even re-doing the childish lettering that is on the South St bar? It looks terrible

  2. I think this is a great application. Its suits today’s desires of being outside. Biggest pro for me, he hasnt asked to increase the pre-established occupancy of the liquor license. Morristown set a horrible precedent when they started approving the expansion of liquor licenses beyond the allocated # seats when the license was issued. How can you justify Homestead as and ‘expansion’ of Tashmoo, because of an underground tunnel? They increased the # of occupancy how many fold?

  3. While Iron Bar and Revolution were not there, Sona 13 (and the space next door that sometimes shared a liquor license), The Office and the Knights of Columbus certainly preceded the residents. Additionally, I think the construction plans for 40 Park contemplated restaurant and bar space on the ground floor. So anyone who purchased a condo at 40 Park knew that they were living (potentially) above and next door to restaurants and bars.

  4. Other comments regarding this were posted for the Death at the train station report. The claim that the bars preceded the residents were untrue. The comment about the Sterling Tavern approval omitted the conditions place on that use and also that the design differed as well as the fact that there were no nearby residents at that location.

  5. “nobody under 21 without a parent or guardian” – but the town forced the owner to make it essentially a table seated food area. What a ridiculous condition – so people under 21 cant grab food up there on the only rooftop place in town?

    No music at all..? Not even low level music while grabbing dinner/drinks? Another ridiculous outright ban. Make the condition no loud club music up there and all music must stop at 10pm or something like that.

    Also, hopefully the 10 ft sound walls are all glass so we can see South St at least…?

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