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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor EAST LONGMEADOW An apparent boom in business led two East Longmeadow establishments to approach the Planning Board for approval of permits for expansion at the board's most recent meeting on Aug. 21. MacKenzie Vault, Inc. of 165 Benton Dr. gained approval for a plan to add 6,500 square feet to its existing structure. A producer of cultured onyx, granite and marble memorial urns, MacKenzie Vault currently stores all its raw and packing materials inside the same building where it manufactures its products. The addition would serve as a warehouse. The warehouse addition would match the height and width of the current building, according to Robert T. Bartlett of Hampshire Construction Company Inc., the firm chosen for the construction. The existing building is made of tan concrete with a white trim; the addition would be made of corrugated white steel. Because this is only an expansion of the building and not the business, no additional traffic will be traversing Benton Drive. The Planning Board approved a waiver of a traffic study before approving MacKenzie Vault's site plan for its addition. The other in-town business looking to expand is Fusion Cafe, located at 53 North Main St. "We're running a business and we face competition," Larry Levine, legal counsel for the restaurant, said. "It's a privilege to have these permits. We don't want to jeopardize anything by not gaining approval first." Fusion Cafe, owned by Mike Chang of Yummy Dough Inc. and managed by Russell Chow, was looking to add outdoor seating to the establishment. Levine explained that Fusion Cafe wanted to add four tables 16 seats for outside dining. The original indoor seating plan, encompassing 98 seats, would remain intact. The board unanimously approved of this amendment to the restaurant's special permit. The other amendment Chow, Chang and Levine wanted to add to the special permit would allow Fusion Cafe to designate a 10' by 15' dance floor within the establishment. This proposal may be a major issue. Abutters to the property raised their concerns during the public hearing. Dawn and Sid Starks of Elm Street sent a letter to the Planning Board, claiming that adding dancing would turn it into a nightclub/tavern, not a restaurant. "There would be less eating and more drinking," the letter stated. Andrew Wilson, also of Elm Street, wondered what would happen if the dance floor amendment was approved. "What's next?" he asked. "First a restaurant, then a nightclub, then what?" "We just want to keep our customers happy," Chow said. "After they're done eating, sometimes they want to dance." Fusion Cafe has permission for a piano player, a singer and a DJ to provide music for diners. Levine reassured the board that supervision by the management would make sure that those who wished to dance would remain in the designated dancing space. The space was not the largest issue. Stephen P. Houle, building commissioner for the town of East Longmeadow, informed the board via e-mail that by adding the dance floor, Fusion Cafe would not simply be making a change to their special permit, it would change its zoning. Additionally, noise from a louder volume of music was a concern. Donald Anderson of the Planning Board stated that "there's a difference between background 'dinner music' and something that would take people away from dining." While complaints have been lodged about early trash removal and kitchen odors, Fusion Cafe has not had any issues with noise levels. There is a bit of discord between members of the Planning Board over whether or not they have the ability to make a decision on the proposed amendment if it changes the restaurant's zoning. Louis Calabrese, clerk for the board, said, "Dancing and dining does not make a place a nightclub. I don't see dancing as a problem. It's all a matter of interpretation, and stretching what they want to do to a 'nightclub' seems ridiculous." Marilyn Richards, chairperson of the Planning Board, believes that using the dance floor after regular hours of dining have ended turns it into a nightclub. "I don't think we have the authority or privilege to allow this," she said. Board member Michael Przybylowicz agreed. "Dancing makes it a different business," he said. After almost an hour of debate, no decision could be reached. Fusion Cafe will be returning for another public hearing on the matter on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. |