NEWRA Opposes Outdoor Patio and Second Floor Restaurant Addition

Four agenda items of community interest drew an unexpected large crowd to the Nazzaro Community Center last week for the monthly meeting of the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association.

The Council by an 18-19 vote opposed a request by Billy Tse Restaurant, 240 Commercial Street to add twenty seasonal seats for an outdoor sidewalk patio.

The request would have increased the restaurant seating capacity to 110.

Residents felt that having an outdoor patio open until 12 midnight would only add to the already loud noise problem the community is already dealing with, especially on weekends.

Residents wanted the patio closing hour to be 11pm, seven days a week. The applicant did not make the change.

Another negative vote was taken by the Council opposing a request by Chris Young to add a second story to 78-80 Salem Street and to expand the existing restaurant, Trattoria Pulcinella to the second floor.

Although the applicant made several changes to his plans based on abutters and residents suggestions including limiting some open windows, not allowing patrons on the rooftop and have the windows on one side of the building closed, the Association voted 10-27 in opposition.

The Association by a 26-10 vote supported a request by NE Frog Pond LLC to change the legal occupancy at 283-285 Hanover Street to open a Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt store with takeout. Hours of operation will be 11pm closing on weekdays and 12 midnight on weekends.

A request by Elaine DiGangi to replace a one-story building at 9 Cooper Street with a six-story building was supported by the Association by a 22-14 vote.

The top two floor will be owner occupied and the other four floors will be rentals. Plans call for a roof-deck that will only be used by the owner.

NEWRA Executive Committee has approved the Zoning, Licensing and Construction Committee’s request to send a letter of “no objection” for two requests because there were no concerns by residents and there appears to be no potential for adverse impact to the community.

The applicants were LuLu’s Sweet Shoppe, 57 Salem Street for a takeout license to serve ice cream and a request by Louis Finacharo to convert the existing four-story building at 3 Garden Court from a three family to a four family residential building.

The next NEWRA monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 7pm in the Nazzaro Community Center.