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Hampstead board approves conditional use for Main Street restaurant
Summary
The Hampstead Board of Zoning Appeals approved a conditional-use request to allow a restaurant in a local business district at the former Hampstead Diner site; approval is conditioned on signage review and standard permits and inspections.
The Hampstead Board of Zoning Appeals approved a conditional-use application to allow a restaurant at a North Main Street property that previously housed the Hampstead Diner.
The application by Hampstead Development LLC, represented at the hearing by Nicole Haines, asked the board to allow a restaurant in the BL (local business) zoning district. The town’s written hearing record states that the town notified neighbors and published public notice in the Carroll County Times; no written public comments were received.
Board members said the proposal met the standards for reuse of a former restaurant site and would not be injurious to the neighborhood, and they moved to approve the application. The board recorded the approval without recorded conditions on hours or seating capacity; staff and permitting processes will set final occupancy and operational details.
Applicant Nicole Haines said permits and a seating layout will determine the restaurant’s occupancy. “Based on the square footage, I'm assuming it's gonna be less than 51,” Haines said. She also told the board the intended hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; whether that will be seven days a week was discussed but not finalized at the hearing. The applicant said a shared parking agreement exists with a nearby church for overflow parking but noted there are day(s) when that sharing may be restricted.
The town’s written record, read into the meeting, summarized the notice and scheduling for the hearing: “The town of Hampstead was notified of a request for a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing on 04/02/2025… Notification letters to adjacent and adjoining neighbors were sent on April 15, and public notice announcing the hearing was published in the Carroll County Times on April 16 and April 23. A sign publicizing the hearing was posted on the property on 04/16/2025. No written comment was received by the town to be included in the written record.”
The board’s approval includes board discussion that installed signage for the property must be reviewed and approved by the Hampstead Planning and Zoning Commission because the property is in the Main Street Revitalization district. The board also noted that the fire marshal and the town’s permits and inspections office will determine final occupancy and any required kitchen or building upgrades; Frank Bailey was identified in the hearing as the town permits and inspections contact who would oversee inspections.
During deliberation board members said the reuse of a former diner reduces several typical concerns for conversions to commercial food service at that location. There were no written objections on file, and no formal amendments to the application were made during the hearing. The board moved, seconded and voted to approve the application; the chair announced the application “has been approved.”
Next steps for the applicant include submitting final seating layouts and building permits, completing any required inspections, and obtaining Planning and Zoning Commission approval for signage prior to opening.
