On the surface, last month’s Surf City Land Use Board meeting was just that – a meeting about land usage in the borough. In actuality, it showcased the dichotomy of a changing business model for restaurant owners as they seek the permanency of outdoor dining and that impact on the community.

“I don’t see how the plan reduces impact to adjacent properties,” North Eighth Street resident Tim Moynihan said of a Surf City Hotel application that seeks approval to permanently move 124 dining seats…