Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
CB2 working group approves most cafe applications with conditions, highlights enforcement gaps
Loading...
Summary
Manhattan Community Board 2’s outdoor dining committee approved the majority of sidewalk and roadway cafe applications with required site-plan corrections and denials for a handful (notably Sofia’s), and heard residents raise persistent enforcement problems about an unlicensed enclosed cafe.
The Manhattan Community Board 2 outdoor dining working group approved a slate of sidewalk and roadway cafe applications on Tuesday, most by voice vote and largely “approved with modifications” so applicants can correct site plans and confirm clearances before final permits proceed.
What passed: During business session the committee granted conditional approvals requiring corrected site plans, measurements and form checkboxes. Among the items approved with modifications were Taco 94 (94 University Place), Taco Mahal (73 7th Avenue South), El Molino Prime (331 West Broadway), Lupe’s East LA Kitchen (110 Avenue of the Americas), Sweetgreen (100 Kenmare), and Famous Ben’s Pizza (177 Spring Street). Committee members repeatedly instructed applicants to: update the site-plan sidewalk width and footprint, label primary residential entrances and show a 5‑foot clearance where required, mark Siamese connection clearances, correct manhole and tree‑pit placements, remove any bolted structures from sidewalks or facades, and check mandatory site‑form boxes for furnishings and awnings.
What was denied: Sofia’s (143 Mulberry) was denied for its sidewalk-cafe request because the submitted sidewalk footprint measured under the required width and did not show a functional access path; the roadway-cafe application at the same address was also denied after committee review of clearances and FDNY-related spacing requirements.
Public enforcement complaint: A resident reported an ongoing problem at a small restaurant on 77th Avenue South that is operating an enclosed, lockable sidewalk “shack” without an approved license, advertising BYOB service, and accumulating repeated summonses. The complainant said OATH shows multiple fines and a hearing scheduled for Dec. 29; the committee recommended collecting OATH summons records and sharing them with the council member’s office to press enforcement.
Applicant quotes and responses: Michelle Bertini, who identified herself as director of finance for El Molino Prime, appeared in person and answered committee concerns about circulation, a fire‑escape drop ladder and the incorrect sidewalk width shown on the site form. After her responses the committee approved El Molino Prime with modifications requiring a corrected site plan, labeling of the fire escape and confirmation of a 5‑foot clearance from the primary residential entrance.
Why this matters: Committee approvals are advisory to DOT and SLA; many approvals were contingent on applicants submitting corrected plans so DOT can proceed without triggering additional public-hearing requirements. The working group said accurate site plans and consistent checks on mandatory boxes would reduce downstream enforcement problems.
Next steps: Applicants were instructed to resubmit corrected site plans (checking furnishing and awning boxes where applicable) and confirm removals of any bolted structures; some were told a revised filing reduces the likelihood of a separate DOT public hearing and the applicant advertising costs that would accompany it. The committee also asked staff to compile examples of recurring referral errors for the board’s testimony at the Council hearing next week.
Votes at a glance (selected items): - Taco 94 (94 University Place) — approved with modifications (voice vote). - Taco Mahal (73 7th Ave S) — approved with modifications (voice vote). - El Molino Prime (331 West Broadway) — approved with modifications; required: change site form sidewalk length from 40 ft to 28 ft, label fire‑escape drop ladder, show 5‑ft clearance to residential entrance. - Sofia’s (143 Mulberry) — sidewalk application denied; roadway application denied (insufficient width/clearance). - Lupe’s East LA Kitchen (110 Avenue of the Americas) — approved with modifications (remove remaining bolted structure; add one additional table as resubmitted). - Sweetgreen (100 Kenmare) — approved with modifications (check S27 Siamese connection box; confirm 5‑ft clearance). - Famous Ben’s Pizza (177 Spring Street) — approved with modifications to meet 10‑ft clearance at corner and reconfigure corner tables.
The working group adjourned at 9:32 p.m.
