by Frank Schroth
The Board of Appeals (BoA) opened a hearing for a special permit requested by the Falconi Companies with regard to a restaurant they want open at the site of the old Milton Cinema. A special permit is required principally to obtain approval from the board for the restaurant parking plan and reconstruction of the site. The proposal was presented by Marion McEttrick, an attorney representing the Falconi Companies. It was a long night.
A letter submitted to the board from Ms. McEttrick outlining the plan was read by the Chair for the hearing, Virginia King. Ms. King was joined by BoA members Emanual Alves and Frank O’Brien.
The plan is to build a 160 seat restaurant on the site (140 inside and an outdoor patio of 20) which will not alter the footprint or height of the building. The building is being sandblasted to remove white paint, having new doors and windows put in, and will have a modified facade. In addition there will be a set of small windows put in on the side to let light into the building.
The Falconis purchased two homes which will be razed to create a parking lot on Church Street. This lot along with the lot they already own will provide parking at a ratio of 2.5 seats to 1 parking space according to McEttrick. She said other establishments (e.g. Abby Park, 88 Wharf) were approved with a ratio of 4 seats to 1 parking space. Determining whether the parking is sufficient is at the discretion of the Board of Appeals. McEttrick stated the allocated parking is above that provided for other restaurants. One issue residents raised was whether or not patrons (or employees) would use that parking. One resident asked hypothetically how someone from out of town would be aware that the Falcomie lot was available. McEttrick explained that valet parking was being discussed and valet attendants would direct cars accordingly. With regard to employees, they would be required to use service zone parking that is available in the area. A final decision to use valet parking has not been made.
BoA member O’Brien said it was reasonable that there would be public concerns regarding noise and light spill over. Residents would voice those concerns later in the session. Ms.McEttrick said there was not yet a complete lighting plan and that such a plan would be part of the site plan review that would go before the Planning Board. This led to Member Alves to question whether the process was backwards. If there were derogating effects on the public which were to be determined by the Planning Board then shouldn’t the BoA wait until that decision has been made. McEttrick responded that the Falconis were following precedent which is to appear first before the BoA to get a judgment on adequacy of parking before continuing with the Planning Board for site plan review. The converse argument is: why have a and invest in the work required for a site plan review only to have the BoA determine parking is insufficient.
Member O’Brien said, “This board is not going to solve the parking problems [in the square] . . . this board can look at the numbers and speaking hypothetically . . . [this is] a reasonable plan with reasonable chance of success. So far I have not heard anything unreasonable or unprecedented.” He also noted that the joint management (between the new restaurant and Abby Park) could go a long way to managiing parking but what would happen if at a future date there was a “divorce”? Would there be a parking war?” O’Brien also noted there were a lot of residents present and the board wanted to hear from them.
Several residents spoke in favor of the project citing it as “unique opportunity” that would “provide advancement in the commercial tax base” and that “while there is no commercial development that doesn’t come with abutter concerns” they can be mitigated.
Residents speaking in opposition or raising concerns said there was already a traffic problem and “I can only see this making it worse.” One complained “We have had rats [and] having employees use service zone parking cannot be enforced.” Another whose parents home is near the property acknowledged it was a commercial area but with addition of a restaurant the peace that came at end of day “would never come. There needs to be a better plan.”
McEttrick said that hours of operation can be specified, delivery times (and locations) restricted and that one option for enforcement would be to allocate funds from the meals tax. While she did not have a specific figure, she noted that the revenue from existing restaurants may be close to $1 million.
The hearing will be continued on January 13th. Residents can speak to the issue then. They can also submit letters (email or post) with their thoughts, opinions and questions to the Board of Appeals. You can email them to Mary Fitzgerald, Secretary of the Board of Appeals mfitzgerald@townofmilton.org.