Want to Hold a Block Party? There Are Rules

Interested in having a block party in Cinnaminson this summer?

A few residents have asked Don Brauckmann about it, however the mayor found there’s no block party ordinance on the books.

“There’s nothing official in place,” Brauckmann said. “And there’s definitely a need for it.

members discussed last week how residents would go about applying to hold a block party, since many factors need to be considered.

“You need to have a checklist,” Brauckmann said. “You need to have rules—who’s going to pick up trash, who’s going to put the roadblocks up, will there be alcohol?”

Specifics residents will need to provide also include time, exact location, appointing a contact person, and more. 

Police, fire and EMS also need to be involved.

Additionally, Public Safety Director Michael P. King said a block party could be a “potential nightmare for neighbors who may or may not know about it.”

“We need a standardized system in place so we’re sure neighbors have been notified,” King said at the meeting.

Brauckmann said the township solicitor would draft an ordinance by the May work session meeting after looking at what other towns propose for block parties.

A percentage of neighbors need to be on-board, with, or at least be approving of, a potential block party. Township committee members said that number could be anywhere from 60 to 75 percent.

“We need to establish how many people are in favor to make it a go,” Brauckmann said.

The ordinance will most likely be ready for first reading at the May work session and for a public hearing at the regular meeting May 21.