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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor EAST LONGMEADOW Spoleto Restaurant, located at 84 Center Square, first filed for an amendment to its special permit on Sept. 17. Two months later, the process was ended amicably. "Spoleto is now allowed to have increased seating -- 194 indoor seats, up from 140," Robyn D. MacDonald, director of Planning and Zoning for the town of East Longmeadow, said. "They are also allowed 45 outdoor seats, weather permitting." The lawyer representing Spoleto, David Martel, said previously that he believed the Planning Board understood the implications of operating the restaurant at the 140-seat level -- less income coming in, with less hours and wages going to employees. The basement of Spoleto can now be used for food preparation and storage without any repercussions. "The basement is now officially recognized as part of the development," MacDonald explained. The basement was never included in the original building plans, according to Marilyn Richards, chair of the Planning Board. The hearing regarding the amendment to the special permit was originally scheduled for Oct. 30 but there were not enough Planning Board members for a quorum, so the hearing was rescheduled for Nov. 19. "A lack of a quorum shot it down for almost a whole month," MacDonald explained. The last step Spoleto's managers have to take so they don't break any more laws or incur any more fines is to approach the Board of Selectmen for a change in the restaurant's liquor license. The current license allows for 140 patrons to be served alcohol. The new license would allow for at least 194 patrons to be served. Spoleto's representatives will meet with the Board of Selectmen at their Dec. 4 meeting. |