W. Cape Zoners OK Restaurant Expansion

WEST CAPE MAY – The Borough of West Cape May Zoning Board unanimously approved variances that will permit the Sapore Italiano Restaurant at 416 S. Broadway to expand its seating by 14 and make other changes to the existing structure.  
Architect Joseph Courter and planner Tiffany Cuviello presented plans for the expansion that will include building an 18-foot by 34-foot addition to the existing building on the Congress Street side of the site.
Cuviello argued that the expansion will improve the aesthetics of the exterior of the building with new landscaping, and alleviate crowding inside the dining area.
She also noted that an existing step-down section inside the dining area is hazardous and that the renovations inside would eliminate that problem. The restaurant also seeks to raise the ceiling from seven feet to a commercially-acceptable level, to reduce the feeling of a cramped dining experience.
Cuviello noted that the new setbacks on Congress Street will be reduced by eight feet, but that there will still be 17 feet of space to the roadway after the addition is completed. 
The current 59-foot setback on Broadway will not be affected. Cuviello also acknowledged that the lot coverage requirement of no more than 60 percent would continue to require a variance because the addition will reduce that figure by about 1 percent; the existing building is already calculated at 68.7 percent which it had maintained since before owner, Perparim Bici, acquired the property.
Parking was addressed by the board’s engineer Raymond Roberts who pointed out that there are currently 21 parking spaces to serve a total capacity of 163 seats (including the 14 proposed), plus a loading space, and that the addition of 14 seats to the plan would require three additional spaces. 
Roberts then cited an ordinance that permits the board to grant a variance regarding parking space requirements by having the owner participate in a “park fund” program that requires the owner to contribute $1,000 per new space, per year, over five years to the borough.
Roberts also pointed out that the Historical Preservation Commission needs to approve the final plan because the restaurant falls within that district.
In summary, the board approved the plan to:
* Add 14 seats in an 18-foot by 34-foot addition.
* Raise the ceiling above seven feet.
* Eliminate a step-down situation in the dining room.
* Permit the restaurant to accomplish this with variances to the existing setback requirements on Congress Street and the need for three additional parking spaces.
The approval is contingent on the approval of the Historical Preservation Commission and confirming that the building is not protected by either national or state designations as a historical site.
The public comment portion included two residents who were curious about the parking situation; no one opposed the project.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.