Public Comment Expected As Summit Council Takes Up Outdoor Dining Ordinance

SUMMIT, NJ — A proposed plan to close a portion of Maple Street to vehicle traffic this summer will take center stage Tuesday night as the Summit Common Council holds a public hearing on the ordinance at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, a move officials say is designed to expand pedestrian space and support downtown businesses during peak months.Council will also take up the city’s 2026 municipal budget and the 2026 Special Improvement District (SID) budget for Summit Downtown, Inc., with hearings expected to focus on spending priorities and downtown investment. The Maple Street proposal comes as officials continue to weigh how best to balance accessibility, safety, and economic activity in the city’s core.The discussion lands amid an ongoing and, at times, contentious debate over outdoor dining in Summit. In recent meetings, some council members have pushed back on how related proposals have been introduced, raising concerns about vetting and timing, while others have argued the city should continue supporting restaurants and maintaining a vibrant downtown environment. Public comment is expected to be heavy on the issue Tuesday night, as residents and business owners weigh in on how outdoor dining and street use should be managed moving forward.Council is also expected to announce staff promotions and vacancies.The meeting will be broadcast live on the City of Summit YouTube channel, Comcast Channel 36 and Verizon Channel 30, with rebroadcasts on HTTV.