On Thursday, February 3, 2011, the Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) voted to continue Falmouth Properties LLCâs (BBC and Seaside Inn) petition for a modification of their approved parking plan. The ZBA requested that they come up with a more workable solution.
The applicant proposed to reduce the current 16 restaurant parking spaces to six based on their experience that the valet parking isn’t working and that the lot is too small to provide the 38 spaces (29 lined, 9 by valet) previously approved for both restaurant and motel parking. The applicantâs representative, Atty. Robert Ament, stated that the owner had made a “mistake” in thinking the current plan could work.
After 90 minutes of discussion and testimony, when realizing the ZBA would not vote in favor of the reduction, Mr. Ament requested the continuation.
The ZBA acknowledged âfrustrationâ with the years of the BBCâs lack of compliance with the conditions of their special permit. The self-admitted failure of the applicantâs infrequent attempts at valet parking was not considered a compelling reason to eliminate the requirement that the BBC provide adequate patron parking.
ZBA Chairman MacNamara stated that any reduction in the requirement to provide 16 parking spaces for restaurant patrons would âtransfer a minor burden to the restaurant into a major burden to the neighborhoodâ. While stating that the ZBA is not in the business of designing and engineering parking facilities for private entities, he offered his personal observation that many motels provide only off-site valet parking to guests renting their rooms. He suggested that, because restaurant spaces turn over every hour or two while motel spaces may turn over only once or twice a day, all existing 29 lined spaces could be allocated for the use of restaurant patrons if the 24 room motel guestsâ vehicles were to be parked at a nearby off-site location.
FHMIA Board Members Winifred Grant, Lorraine Luchner and Howard Grosser spoke in opposition to the proposed parking space reduction plan. Neighbors Andy Dufresne, Regina Walsh and Nancy Erickson spoke in opposition, while one East Falmouth resident and BBC employee, Judith Huxley, spoke in favor. The ZBA received six letters or emails expressing opposition to the request.
The FHMIA is pleased with and encouraged by the ZBA taking such a strong stance against the current request and any future parking plan that would reduce the number of restaurant patron parking spaces, thereby further burdening the neighborhood. The FHMIA plans to maintain its position that any parking plan for the property at Grand Ave. and Central Park have a minimum of 16 lined parking spaces dedicated to patrons of the BBC.
If you can, please attend the ZBA meeting Thursday, April 14, at 6:30 at Town Hall, or email your thoughts and/or ideas to the ZBA at falzba@falmouthmass.us. When writing a Town official or group, always include your name, address, and connection to the issue/property, noting if you are an abutter or not and your reason for being in favor or in opposition.
See Falmouth Enterprise articles, Friday, January 21, 2011, page 3: “British Beer Company Will Ask To Revise Parking Plan”; and Tuesday, February 8, 2011, page 8: “British Beer Company Told To Come Up With Parking Plan For Heights Restaurant”.
To view the 2/3/11 meeting on FCTV, go to www.fctv.org/ts/node/1374, click on the arrow in the middle of the picture, wait a while for it to download, and watch. To skip other agenda items, you can scroll to the beginning of the BBC discussion at minute 14:50. It continues through 1:52:42.