Council continues Cava special-permit hearing for 1265 Main Street to Oct. 13

Attorney Michael Connors, representing petitioner Kava Group Inc., told the council the proposed Cava restaurant would occupy a roughly 9,000-square-foot retail building within the 1265 Main Street development and include about 2,724 gross square feet of service area that triggers a fast-food special permit under Waltham zoning. "The proposed Carver restaurant will move into a new approximately 9,000 square foot retail building at 96 Tower Road," Connors said, and he noted the petitioner proposes hours of operation from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and that the permit carries an express condition prohibiting a drive-through.

Connors said the site is part of a larger 94.44-acre development and that traffic analyses were prepared for the property. "As to traffic, this did go in front of the traffic commission and the study was accepted," he said, adding that VHB performed traffic work for the site. Councilors asked detailed questions about parking, access and whether the restaurant would rely on the main entrance from Main Street. Nick Scully of VHB told the council an alternate access from Tower Road and rear parking would allow patrons to avoid traveling along Main Street directly.

Councilors framed the request within the broader zoning approval for 1265 Main Street and emphasized that the special-permit process exists to identify site-specific mitigations such as signage, parking flow and traffic. With no proponents or opponents presenting rebuttal on the night, the council moved to continue the public hearing to Oct. 13 to allow submission of additional materials and further review.