Nick Gialias wants to add his vision to West Mechanic Street’s ‘restaurant row’
The New Hope Zoning Hearing Board will listen to presentations regarding two significant projects at its Aug. 7 meeting.
Up first, Nick Gialias, formerly of the Logan Inn, will be looking for approval of his new West Mechanic Street restaurant featuring spirit/food pairings. Named ‘Nektar,’ the menu will feature an exotic list of wines, beers and whiskeys to complement specially selected tapas and cold plates.
The Nektar project uses land from two different properties, one of which, along the banks of Ingham Creek, would be leased from a neighboring property owner. Main features of the renovation are an addition to the second floor, and adding the ability to enclose the rear porch during inclement or cold weather.
Factoid: Zoning member Joel Roberts has recused himself from voting on the project since he owns the property next door.
See the official notice in Item 1 below.
Next, the Zoning Hearing Board will hear from representatives of the Bucks County Playhouse, who want to “permit the erection of a tent that is greater than 800 square feet in size and to allow it to remain on the property for more than three days for any one event and more than fifteen days per calendar year.” Playhouse officials say the tent will provide greater flexibility in accommodating special events.
The structure will probably utilize some parking and sidewalk space. Also requested: a large sign over the Playhouse’s main entrance, similar to one Playhouse officials say existed during the 1970s. Item 2 below describes the variance requests in more detail.
While no significant organized opposition to either project is rumored, the Aug. 7 meeting certainly sounds worth the price of admission. It will be held at 7 p.m. at 125 New Street.
Item 1: The Zoning Hearing Board of New Hope Borough, Bucks County, PA, will hold a public hearing on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 7:00 PM, at New Hope Borough Hall, 125 New Street, New Hope, PA, 18938, to consider the application of Alpha Land Management, L.P., regarding Tax Parcel No. 27-10-78, which is located in the CC, Central Commercial Zoning District, and Tax Parcel No. 27-10-75, which is located in the R-2, Rural Residential Zoning District of New Hope Borough. The applicant desires to expand the restaurant use on Lot # 27-10-78 and to include a portion of Lot # 27-10-75 for that use. In order to do so, the applicant requests the following relief from the New Hope Borough Zoning Ordinance: (1) a special exception, pursuant to §275-62.C to alter the restaurant which is a lawful nonconforming use; (2) variances from §275-62.A.1 and §275-62.A.3 to permit the expansion of a nonconforming structure on a nonconforming lot which extends the nonconformity for a distance of greater than 10 feet; (3) variances from §275-62.C.2 and §275-62.C.4 to permit an alteration, extension, or enlargement upon a neighboring lot which expansion will constitute greater than 25% of the floor area or building volume; (4) a variance from §275-28.B to permit a restaurant use on Lot # 27-10-75; (5) a variance from §275-28.C to allow structures on a nonconforming lot and within the applicable minimum yard setbacks; and (6) from §275-17.D.2.d.1 and §275-17.D.2.d.2 to allow outdoor seating which cannot comply with the dimensional requirements therefore. The tax parcels are generally located at 8 West Mechanic Street in New Hope Borough. Materials regarding this application may be examined at the New Hope Borough Hall during normal business hours and on the date, time and place of the hearing.
Item 2: The Zoning Hearing Board of New Hope Borough, Bucks County, PA, will hold a public hearing on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 7:00 PM, at New Hope Borough Hall, 125 New Street, New Hope, PA, 18938, to consider the application of Daryl Boling, regarding Tax Parcel No. 27-10-142 which is a vacant lot located at 50 S. Main Street and Tax Parcel No. 27-10-146 which is located at 70 S. Main Street and developed as the Bucks County Playhouse, both in the CC, Central Commercial Zoning District of New Hope Borough. The Applicant proposes to erect special event tents on the subject property and requests variances from §275-22.E.2 of the New Hope Borough Zoning Ordinance in order to permit the erection of a tent that is greater than 800 square feet in size and to allow it to remain on the property for more than three days for any one event and more than fifteen days per calendar year. Further, the applicant requests a variance from §275-22.E.9 to allow a tent to be erected over parking spaces or sidewalks or within a public right of way. Additionally, the applicant requests variances from §275-54.D to permit more signs of greater size than permitted thereby. Materials regarding this application may be examined at the New Hope Borough Hall during normal business hours and on the date, time and place of the hearing.
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