On Monday, the Orient Heights Neighborhood Council (OHNC) held its monthly meeting, at which attendees supported a few proposals, including a development project on Bennington Street and a request to upgrade a license from an establishment also on Bennington Street.
The first proposal up for discussion was a development project at 1022 Bennington Street. As part of the project, the current building, which houses four units and a nail salon, would have its occupancy changed to five units plus the nail salon.
Attorney Richard Lynds, who presented the project to the OHNC, also noted that the building would undergo life safety upgrades.
He also said, “We’re not changing anything with respect to the footprint, the height, or the exterior of the structure. This is all internal work, so none of the building will change.”
After outlining floor plans, renderings, and elevations, Lynds outlined the zoning relief that the project would need. Specifically, he indicated that the only relief the project would need is for parking.
The building currently has no off-street parking, and Lynds said there was “no opportunity to incorporate a curb cut or bring the vehicles onto the site.”
“As you know, this is located very close to public transit. We’re on a bus line, we’re within walking distance of Orient Heights station. We don’t believe the impact from the variance we are requesting would have a detrimental effect on the surrounding neighborhood,” he added.
Following the brief presentation, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions or make comments. The question and answer portion of the presentation focused mainly on trash concerns.
An attendee said they heard there was an issue with trash near the property, and an OHNC Board Member noted comments about trash in an alley near the property during the OHNC meeting where the proposal was first presented.
In response, Lynds noted he did not hear these concerns during the abutters meeting but told the attendees to make a report with 311 so if there is a problem, it will be addressed.
Ultimately, attendees supported the proposal by a vote of 12-4, with one voter abstaining.
Another proposal that received support from the OHNC was a request for an alcohol license upgrade to include spirits for Angela’s Cafe at 1012 Bennington Street.
Attorney Kristen Scanlon noted that the establishment is “your true neighborhood authentic Mexican restaurant” and has had a beer, wine, and cordials license since it opened at the location nine years ago.
There is also another location in Eagle Hill, which has had a beer, wine, and cordials license for the last 14 years.
“They’ve been exemplary licensees with the licensure that they do have at this time at both locations,” said Scanlon.
Scanlon also indicated that the request to upgrade its license to include spirits would allow the restaurant to expand its offerings so that it can “round out” its creative cocktail list.
In addition to that request, they are looking to make their seasonal patio permanent so they do not have to continue to go through the process to open it.
“It [the patio] would stay exactly the same, but what it just would do is permanently add it to the description on the face of the license itself so they don’t have to go back every season to ask for it,” said Scanlon.
In the end, attendees were amenable and supported the proposal by a vote of 16-1. The next OHNC meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 21st. For more information about the OHNC, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OrientHeightsNC/.