Brewster Theatre proposes 100-seat theater; board presses for parking agreements and accessibility fixes

Brewster Theatre Company told the Planning Board it plans to convert a tearoom at 69 Gleneda into a permanent, 100-seat performing-arts theater. Bob Dumont, representing Brewster Theatre, said the proposal would provide about 11 on-site spaces and rely on off-site agreements; the planner’s review flagged required variances for parking (57 required, 11 provided), loading, and lot width.

Dumont said the company has negotiated two agreements — twenty spaces from a Wenco parking lot and 15 spaces from Putnam Housing — and that roughly 60 marked street spaces are within a two-block walk. The planner and engineer raised concerns about ADA access from rear parking and the potential need for paving and a stormwater permit if the lot is paved. During deliberations a board member moved, “to deny this to the Zoning Board of Appeals,” and the motion passed; board members asked the applicant to produce written parking agreements and clearer documentation before the zoning review.