Planning Board approves expansion of Main Street restaurant to 45 seats

The Falmouth Planning Board voted to approve a site-plan review application for a seating increase at 352 Main Street, Unit 3, moving the restaurant's capacity from 12 to 45 seats.

Tom, reading the board's motion and findings, described the project as interior renovations only, including installation of a bar and reconfiguration of the dining area, and noted that no building footprint expansion is proposed. The board's findings also said the expanded seating increases the required number of parking spaces and that the applicant indicated lunchtime seating would be reduced to 25 to ease use of the shared lot. "The project consists solely of interior renovations to accommodate the additional seating," Tom said when describing the application.

Conditions attached to the approval include: construction per the approved plan; review of any changes by the planning board; compliance with building-code standards as determined by the building commissioner; engineering division address assignment prior to building permit; posting of the building address upon completion; and a lapse clause that the site-plan decision shall lapse three years from the date granted if substantial use has not commenced, subject to the board's determination of good cause.

Chair John Druelly called for the vote; the board responded "Aye." One member recused from the matter before the vote was recorded.

The decision contains standard administrative requirements, and the board noted town departments had reviewed and commented on the application and that their concerns were addressed in the submission. The record directs the applicant to coordinate with the engineering division for address assignment and with the building commissioner for code compliance.

The board's action concludes the planning-board portion of the site's review; any building permits and final inspections remain subject to the usual department approvals.