Applicant seeks cookbook‑to‑kitchen variance on Luzerne Street; board to issue decision in March

Ronald De Benedetto Jr., the owner of Devour Catering, told the City of Reading Zoning Hearing Board on Feb. 12, 2025, that he seeks a variance to convert a storage facility on Luzerne Street (owner of record: Judy Pollock) to a catering business in an R‑3 residential district.

De Benedetto said the proposed operation would be a prep‑and‑ship catering business; meals would be prepared on site and delivered off site for events such as weddings and banquets. He said there would be no on‑site dining. He told the board he plans staffing levels of one person on site 100% of operating hours, two people roughly half the time and up to three people about 25% of the time; he said his fleet would include five vans and one small box truck and that vehicles could pull into the property to load and unload.

Why it matters: permitting a commercial food‑preparation use in a residential district raises land‑use compatibility questions — traffic, noise and neighborhood character — that the board will weigh when it issues its written decision.

Board proceedings

De Benedetto testified about the site’s location near the railroad tracks and described access and parking on site. No members of the public appeared to testify for or against the application at the hearing. The board accepted the testimony and exhibits and said it will issue a written decision and mail it to the applicant; De Benedetto need not attend the March meeting.

Speakers listed in the record included De Benedetto (applicant), Emily Diaz Melendez (zoning officer) and board members who asked clarifying questions. The board did not take a final vote at the hearing.

Next steps

The board will prepare and mail a written decision following deliberation at its March meeting. If approved with conditions, the applicant may be required to follow local health‑department and building‑permit requirements before operating.