Planning Board approves third‑floor Omakase at Le Grand Boucherie after traffic, valet and noise debate

The Planning Board on Jan. 7 approved a modification to a conditional‑use permit for Le Grand Boucherie at 81 Washington Ave to add a 102‑seat third‑floor Japanese-style Omakase restaurant. Staff and the applicant described the change as a way to activate unused, previously office space above the two‑level restaurant and to help the operator recoup the high cost of a historic restoration.

Why it matters: The operator had already finished an extensive renovation of the 1936 building; the board’s decision allows the owner to add seats and new use types to a property that was vacant for years. Board members and staff focused on valet storage, delivery operations and concentration of restaurant seats in the South of Fifth neighborhood — all recurring civic concerns in an area with dense hospitality uses.

What the board approved - Addition of up to 102 seats on the third floor; applicant said the net increase is 67 seats because some seats were reallocated from the first two floors. - Change of the valet/storage location for restaurant vehicles from an earlier site (119 Washington) to 400 Collins Avenue (two blocks north). Applicant said the new location is available during daytime hours and will improve valet service for lunch and dinner. - Requirement to construct a sidewalk across the curb cut where indicated; applicant agreed to complete the sidewalk concurrently with the third‑floor build‑out rather than blocking permit progress. - Transportation Department conditions: a revised Transportation Demand Management plan submitted prior to building permit and maintenance of valet staffing and queuing so curb impacts are limited.

Debate highlights Board members pressed the team on the study’s treatment of pass‑by trips and the 44% pass‑by estimate used in the traffic work. Traffic consultant Jorge Peña (on Zoom) explained that pass‑by trips are trips made by people already on the corridor who stop at a restaurant rather than trips originating at home; he said the city’s peer review and Transportation Department accepted the study and that level‑of‑service impacts did not change under the proposed configuration.

Applicant presentation and mitigation Applicant representative Nicholas Rodriguez said the owner (Emil Stepkov, The Group NY) had invested heavily to restore the building and that bringing the third floor into active use was necessary to support the operation. The applicant also proposed a small secure bike/micromobility parking area and an employee bike/pass program. The owner’s manager, David Bocagnano, said deliveries to the restaurant will be frequent but generally use smaller trucks; applicant provided an alley access plan to show a truck could be staged without blocking alley circulation.

Outcome and follow up The board approved the modification with conditions (motion passed; board vote recorded as 6–1). The Planning Department will require the applicant to submit a revised TDM and to report back via the standard 90‑day/annual progress reporting so the board can evaluate real‑world traffic and valet operation performance. The applicant also agreed to the Transportation Department’s minimum valet staffing and queue management conditions and to maintain the specified sidewalk/streetscape work prior to final certificate of use.

Sources: Planning Board transcript, staff report, applicant presentation, Transportation memo.