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Date: 12/27/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW — John Sullivan, the co-owner of East Village Tavern, 53 N. Main St., came before the planning board on Dec. 19 to request the COVID-19-era temporary patio at the business be made permanent. At the same time, the business owner sought a change in the entertainment allowed at the restaurant.
An attorney for Sullivan explained that the allowances made for outdoor dining during the coronavirus pandemic will be coming to an end in 2024. The patio, which seats up to 40 people, was constructed in the footprint of five parking spaces.
Building Commissioner David Gardner submitted comments on the plan for the patio, in which he said the parking allows for a maximum capacity of 98 customers. With the permanent loss of five parking spaces, the maximum capacity should be reduced by 15 people, he said.
The attorney said the patio has been in place for three years with no parking issues, but Planning Board Chair Russell Denver disputed that. He said he sees people routinely park at Children’s Dentistry and walk across North Main Street to the restaurant. Planning Board member Cassandra Cerasuolo recalled that at a previous meeting with the owners, a resident had said customers were also parking at the adjacent bank. The attorney said his party was willing to have the parking reexamined to ensure adherence to town bylaws.
The current special permit for East Village Tavern allows up to three musicians at once for entertainment. The attorney said the larger groups of musicians would mainly play on Saint Patrick’s Day weekend and the day prior to Thanksgiving, when East Village Tavern hosts events. However, the Tavern is also home to Thursday night “Irish sessions,” during which amateur musicians play Irish folk music using windpipes.
The attorney said of the restaurant’s owners, “They have no interest in being a nightclub.” Except the Philadelphia Mummers visiting the restaurant on Saint Patrick’s Day, he said the number of customers will not increase.
Denver asked why the owners were seeking a change to the special permit if larger groups were sporadic instead of seeking one day licenses, as they had in the past. the attorney said there was a concern that the windpipes customers play from their tables during the Thursday night Irish sessions would run afoul of the current limitations to the number of musicians.
The fire department submitted comments expressing concern that the extra musicians would change the venue from a restaurant with background music to a nightclub with live entertainment, which could cause crowding surpassing the maximum capacity. If the occupancy is more than 100 people, installation of a fire suppression sprinkler system would be required. Even with fewer than 100 people, if the background music at the venue currently changes to music for dancing, a fire alarm system would be required that would shut off power to the band and turn on the lights.
The attorney assured the board that the owners do not want an occupancy of more than 100 people. He also noted that when musicians play, the business must move out 10 to 13 tables to make room, reducing capacity.
Town Council President Ralph Page approached the board and stated that he was speaking on the matter as a resident. He said he was concerned with the size of the deck and noted the parking lot is small. He also said, “This is a restaurant,” and is not suitable for bands such as the 7Roads Band, which is scheduled to play at the restaurant on March 14 and 17. He said sound “bounces off” the Pecousic Brook and affects Brook Street residents. The attorney countered that the owners were in contact with the residents of Brook Street and there had been no complaints.
Denver remarked that he was grateful for Page’s input and said, “Unlike other people, I think we greatly appreciate your expertise and knowledge and planning matters.”
Dever asked petitioners to return with a definition of “entertainer” and a definitive parking plan. The public hearing was continued to Feb. 6, 2024.