Measure allows pizzerias, coffee shops to add seats and apply for liquor license
The Huntington Town Board, at its January 12 meeting, approved creation of a new category of food service establishments – called “bistros” -- that would allow smaller restaurants such as dine-in pizzerias and coffee shops to double the number of seats and apply for liquor licenses if they meet the new State requirements.
The proposal, sponsored by Councilwoman Tracey Edwards and Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, is aimed at helping small businesses that serve food for on-premises consumption be more competitive and at keeping Town Code in line with evolving business interests within the community.
Prior to approval of this change, Town Code had only two classifications: food shops, which cannot have more than 15 seats and cannot serve alcohol; and restaurants, which must have a floor plan of at least 2,500 square feet. Under the new classification, bistros are permitted to have one seat for every 65 square feet of total gross floor area, up to a maximum of 38 seats for a 2,500-square-foot bistro. Bistros will also have to meet parking requirements and are barred from having drive-through access. Additionally, no more than five percent of the total gross floor area open to the public can be used to display prepackaged retail products.
The proposed change to Town Code also separates the definition of tavern/bar, to more clearly distinguish those establishments from restaurants. Under the new definition, a tavern/bar is different from a restaurant in that it does not provide at all times kitchen facilities for food service and in that it does not have seating at tables and chairs for 90 percent of the lawful number of patrons. The opposite applies to restaurants. This code creates clarity with establishing four distinct classifications; Restaurants, Bistros, Food Shops, or Tavern/Bar.
While the measure was approved and will take effect as soon as it is filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Albany, Councilwoman Edwards said she would introduce an amendment that would not allow bistros in the Town’s hamlet centers – Huntington Village, Huntington Station, Greenlawn, Cold Spring Harbor and East Northport. That amendment would be subject to a public hearing; the date for that hearing is expected to be set at the February 10 Town Board meeting.
In other action, the Town Board:
-- set a February 10 public hearing on a proposed updating of the Town’s Marine Conservation Law. The update will include revisions suggested by several Town departments and the Town’s Conservation Board and Harbor and Boating Advisory Council. Among the proposed changes are updating and streamlining the approval process for dredging and deposition of material and construction/reconstruction of marine structures; establishing engineering standards for marine structures; and establishing a separate permit for emergency maintenance/storm damage.
-- approved a Dog of the Week program at the Town Animal Shelter under which the $80 adoption fee will be waived for a selected dog each week.
-- approved the appropriation of up to $15,500 from the Neighborhood Enhancements Fund to purchase aluminum gangway and materials to construct three floating docks to connect to the Town Dock in Halesite.
-- extended until April 15, 2016, the deadline for acting on the application for a rezoning that would allow construction of a hotel on the west side of Broadhollow Road south of the Long Island Expressway in Melville.
-- set a February 10 public hearing on an amendment to Town Code that would allow for the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant parking variances for restaurants and other service businesses in office and industrial buildings in industrial zoning districts. Currently, while the businesses are allowed, they cannot get parking variances. The change would allow the ZBA to consider such conditions as whether the businesses have different hours of operation than the offices or industrial companies.
-- approved spending up to $100,000 from the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements Reserve Fund to purchase a replacement for the aging Thimble Theater, the portable stage that is used by the Town and not-for-profit groups for events. The current stage has outlived its useful life span and cannot be repaired.