ARTICLE OPTIONS
WEST CARTHAGE — After hearing from several people at the Jan. 9 public hearing, the River Area Council of Governments Cooperative Zoning Board of Appeals reserved its decision on a requested area variance for a proposed restaurant on Dock Street, Carthage.
Scott C. and Shannon J. Sauer purchased the Dock Street brick building, commonly referred to as the Abbass Building, in hopes of creating a destination restaurant.
Under village code, the 2,950 square feet of patron space would require 59 off-street parking spaces. The owners are considering the addition of a deck which would add 650 square feet and an additional 13 parking spaces for a total of 72.
Due to the absence of on-site parking, the Sauers are seeking a variance through the Cooperative Zoning Board of Appeals.
According to a parking study presented to the appeals board at its Dec. 5 meeting by Terrence J. Thisse, the building has a footprint of about 4,400 square feet. It “sits on an odd-shaped parcel of approximately 7,000 square feet” which “leaves little space for on-site parking.”
The village of Carthage is working with the Sauers on a licensing agreement to allow for non-exclusive parking in lot on West Street across from the municipal building; in the area next to the village boat launch and in the area adjacent to Turning Point Park. This agreement, along with parking on the neighboring parcel owned by National Grid, would account for 59 spaces.
Carthage President G. Wayne McIlroy said the two parties were “tweaking” the memorandum of understanding. He added both were basically in agreement and that once it’s finalized, he’s “100 percent sure” the village board would give approval when they meet Jan. 22.
“If he doesn’t get parking, the project will implode,” said Susan Sauer, Mr. Sauer’s mother. “He can’t be successful without parking.”
She questioned how other businesses at the location such as the bakery operated without sufficient parking.
Mr. McIlroy clarified the bakery had been in a different building behind the Abbass building, which formerly had been a cheese plant and more recently had been an ice cream stand but vacant for decades. In addition, he pointed out the area and the laws were different now.
“The whole area has changed completely since the 1960s,” he said, adding the park was not there then.
Village Code Enforcement Officer Robert B. Ball noted most State Street businesses are in the historic downtown district and are exempt from the parking regulations.
William Blunden, former town of Wilna Planning Board chairman, urged the appeals board to “seriously consider” the variance.
“The building has been empty for a number of years,” he said. “Someone is willing to invest in a business downtown. People thought where the fire was there would be new businesses but now it’s a park. It’s a matter of 13 (parking) spots — that’s a small price to bring business downtown. It could be the start of some other development downtown.”
The village president noted a feasibility study had been done on the building which determined it would be a “perfect building” for a restaurant. In addition, he said Mr. Sauer had talked about expanding the business with ways to utilize the river such as kayak rentals.
“If something doesn’t get done, it would take $60,000 to $80,000 to take it down,” said Mr. McIlroy.
After closing the public hearing, Tina Kight, Zoning Board of Appeals chair, said she was “not comfortable” approving the variance at this time.
“In closing the public hearing, we have 60 days to resolve the matter,” she said. “We want to make sure we have the numbers correct and the wording (of the variance) right. We want to have our ducks in a row to protect him (Mr. Sauer) and any future owners.”
The chair said after a review of the memorandum of understanding and consulting with their attorney a decision could be made at the next meeting set for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 in the town offices, 10 N. Broad St.
https://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/dock-street-restaurant-parking-issues-addressed--20190112 2019-01-12 22:04:00Z
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