The most notable decision involved the approval of application number 24 col 522, submitted by District on Urban Renewal LLC. This application plans for the construction of two permanent outdoor dining structures attached to Building C, currently under construction. The applicant emphasized that these structures are important for attracting quality tenants to the restaurant spaces. The board considered the application urgent, noting the necessity of completing construction to secure tenants. The application also included requests for signage variances, exceeding the permitted limits, as only one sign per frontage is generally allowed unless the tenant occupies a corner establishment. The board approved the application with conditions, including submitting revised site plans, ensuring transformer screening, and complying with all necessary outdoor dining operation approvals.

The meeting also focused on an application from Malagos on Route 46, involving a minor site plan with bulk variances for an addition. The proposal included a 1,140 square foot open dining pergola attached to the existing structure, alongside a storage container and lighting. The board reviewed several variance requests, such as a front yard setback of 78.1 feet against the required 80 feet and the location of the storage container in the front yard instead of the rear. The restaurant’s seating capacity was also addressed, with the new outdoor structure adding 32 seats, maintaining the total seating within previously approved limits.

The architect, Joseph Denado, provided an overview of the proposed structure, noting it would not increase the overall seating capacity. The outdoor seating area is composed of three glass sides and measures approximately 67 feet 8 inches wide by 16 feet 10 inches tall. The board members discussed the impact of these changes on site coverage and traffic flow. A concern was the storage container taking up a parking space, reducing available parking to 126 spaces against the required 127. The applicant suggested painting the container to match the restaurant’s aesthetic and possibly extending the dumpster enclosure to shield it better.

Another topic of interest was the existing low-intensity lighting on a building, described as decorative “Christmas tree lights” outlining the roofline. This application sought to legalize the lighting, which was under scrutiny for potentially violating the local ordinance. Board members debated the appropriateness of the lights and their compliance with regulations, with concerns about setting a precedent for future applications.