Planning board approves seasonal Chipotle patio that removes three parking spaces at plaza

The Grand Island Planning Board approved a proposal for a seasonal outdoor patio for a new Chipotle that will occupy space beside an existing Starbucks and will remove three parking spaces at the plaza. The applicant described a paved patio area with a railing and landscaping; no new sidewalk work was proposed and indoor dining remains (transcript SEG 663–SEG 692, SEG 796–SEG 801).

Planning board members raised concerns about whether removing three spaces would push the plaza further out of compliance with parking requirements and noted that the plaza has reserved auxiliary parking areas that are currently unavailable for development. Staff noted those auxiliary spaces are planned for bank parking or overflow use and are not immediately buildable because of stormwater pond constraints. After discussion the board moved and seconded a motion to approve the patio; members voted aye (transcript SEG 885–SEG 897). The transcript records aye votes but does not include a roll‑call tally in the excerpt provided.

The board attached a condition that site plan compliance and snow‑removal arrangements previously discussed for the plaza remain in effect. Staff also noted the plaza as a whole remains non‑compliant with required parking counts and the project will result in a net loss of three spaces; members concluded the impact was minor compared with the sitecontext.

What happens next: applicant may proceed to implement the seasonal patio with required site‑plan conditions and any town permitting processes for the plaza. The transcript does not record specific permit numbers or a final numeric vote tally in this excerpt.