Planning Board closes hearing on proposed 1037 Great Plain Ave restaurant; decision expected Dec. 2

The Planning Board closed the public hearing on an application for major project site plan/special permits for 1037 Great Plain Avenue and agreed to have a draft decision prepared for the board’s December 2 meeting.

Attorney George Teta, representing the applicant, said the project would gut and renovate the long‑occupied restaurant space (previously Rice Barn and earlier eateries) and reopen it as a Mediterranean small‑plates concept operated by Stuart Henry, an owner associated with The James restaurant. The plan would not expand the building footprint; the interior seating would increase slightly from the previous approved 102 seats to 110 seats plus takeout. The proposal includes a designated patio for outdoor seating at the rear; the applicant said they will determine whether to use a seasonal administrative process (capped at 30% of interior seats) or pursue a larger outdoor‑dining allowance requiring further relief.

The application requests a set of special permits: site plan review for a major project, a permit for multiple nonresidential uses (building contains two tenant spaces), design waivers for four existing tandem employee spaces, and a parking waiver increasing the prior waiver from 44 to 47 spaces (to reflect the additional interior seats and takeout demand). Teta noted four tandem employee spaces exist behind the building and that Design Review recommended a charcoal‑gray front facade rather than black.

Planning staff reported that Police, Fire, Health and DPW had submitted no major objections; Health noted standard permitting and pest‑control items to be addressed before operations. Board members asked about how many seats might be placed on the patio; the applicant said administrative seasonal seating would allow up to roughly 30% of interior seats as a conservative cap, and a larger outdoor dining program (e.g., 60 seats) would necessitate a separate application and a parking study.

After public and board questioning and recognition of submitted correspondence, the board voted to close the hearing. Planning staff said they would prepare a draft affirmative decision for the board’s December 2 meeting.

The board did not vote on the substance of the permits at the November meeting; the December agenda will include the decision and any conditions staff recommend.