Penfield Zoning Board approves a slate of variances and conditional uses, including Chuck E. Cheese and 7 Brew plans

The Penfield Zoning Board of Appeals on June 24 approved a series of area variances, an itinerant vendor license and two commercial conditional-use requests after public presentations, neighbor comments and unanimous voice votes.

The most notable approvals were a conditional-use permit for a Chuck E. Cheese AdventureWorld at 1900 Empire Boulevard and a variance package for a 7 Brew drive-through and building-mounted signage at 2130 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road. Justin Lee, the applicant representative for CEC Entertainment, told the board the AdventureWorld concept emphasizes active play with a two‑story play area, a toddler section and a kid-check system to ensure children leave only with their accompanying adult. Board members cited parking at the plaza and asked the applicant and property owner to work with the town engineer on pedestrian and traffic controls; the board approved the conditional use after declaring an Unlisted SEQR action with a negative declaration.

Doug Beechill, director of entitlements for Brew Team New York, said the 7 Brew proposal requires a canopy that slightly encroaches on the side-yard setback to shelter order pickups. The board found the canopy’s recessed down‑lighting and placement would not unduly affect adjacent commercial properties and approved both the setback variance and permission for four building-mounted signs, with illumination limited to business hours and town-engineer review for broader site circulation concerns.

On routine and residential matters, the board approved multiple accessory-structure and fence variances: - An accessory indoor court (pickleball-style) for Dave Grimrick at 1786 Sweets Corners Road was approved after the applicant reduced the size and increased the rear setback; the board found topography constrained relocation options and noted a neighbor support letter. - A two‑year itinerant vendor license was granted to Keystone Novelties (William Chrysler) to sell sparklers at 1650 Penfield Road; the board repeated prior stipulations on fire suppression and noise control and issued a negative declaration under SEQR. - Minor storage-shed variances were approved for Jason Patty (100 Stockton Lane) and Sean Stanton (23 Pennshire Circle), each supported by neighbor letters and a SEQR Type II determination. - A six‑foot white vinyl fence on a corner lot for Cory and Jennifer Winters (407 Embree Road) was approved after the town engineering memo reported no sight-line problems for nearby drivers. - Larger variances were approved for Rocco Barbieri Jr. (two setbacks and size) and for Mark Frederico (an accessory barn that slightly exceeds the town’s accessory-structure square-footage definition). In both cases the board required conditions limiting commercial use and outside storage of vehicles or equipment and requested finishes consistent with the primary residence; neighbors had raised concerns about neighborhood character for the Frederico parcel, and the board added visual-buffering and lighting-direction conditions.

Throughout the evening residents raised procedural concerns about neighborhood notification, especially whether homeowners associations always receive mailed notices when parcels abut common areas. Board members said notices are generated by parcel proximity rules and encouraged residents and HOAs to sign up for town agenda notifications while the board committed to referring the question on HOA mailings to town staff for follow-up.

No motions failed; each approval moved by motion, received a second and passed by voice vote. Several approvals included explicit conditions (no commercial use, limits on outside storage, town-engineer review for traffic/safety measures). The board adjourned with no tabled applications for next month.

Votes at a glance: all motions recorded in the meeting passed by voice vote with aye responses recorded on the audio record. Specific conditions and SEQR determinations were read into the record for each action.

What’s next: applicants for the commercial projects will follow planning-board and engineering reviews for site-plan, stormwater and circulation requirements; residents were advised they may comment at the planning-board meetings where site-level details will be reviewed.