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Commission approves Next Chapters used‑bookstore and cafe at 218 River Road
Summary
The commission approved site‑plan review for Next Chapters LLC to open a used bookstore with a small cafe and shared parking at 218 River Road. Applicants said there will be no on‑site cooking and that the health department has signed off; the motion to approve carried.
Next Chapters LLC told the Town Plan and Zoning Commission June 22 that it will open a used‑bookstore with a modest cafe on the building’s second floor at 218 River Road.
Paul Stepppa and co‑applicant Lena Van Buckenberg said the cafe space totals about 620 square feet and the bookstore about 611 square feet, for roughly 1,300 square feet combined. They said the building’s parking arrangement relies on an existing shared parking agreement with the adjacent mini‑golf operation; Stepppa and Van Buckenberg calculated four shared spaces for their use and noted prior approvals allowed more.
Commissioners confirmed the proposal includes no on‑site cooking beyond reheating (the health department has already signed off), asked for clarifications on layout and restroom access, and discussed signage and future permit steps. Van Buckenberg described the venture as a low‑intensity, browse‑and‑buy operation rather than a high‑turnover coffee shop: "We're the experience, not so much the coffee shop," she said.
The commission voted to approve site‑plan review for Next Chapters LLC, including review of the shared parking arrangement and the second‑floor cafe/bookstore use. Staff reminded the applicants that sign permits and any building‑permit details must be addressed with planning and building staff before opening.
