HomeMy WebLinkAbout5063 21 Arlington St Letter of Opposition 3Town of Yarmouth Zoning Board of Appeals
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
Re: Petition 5063, Tugboats Restaurant
21 Arlington Street, West Yarmouth, MA
Hearing date: November 9, 2023
Dear Yarmouth Zoning Board of Appeals;
RECEIVEID
NOV 0 8 2023
YARMOU H
BOARD OF APPEARS
November 7, 2023
My name is Maureen Ryan and I live off Bayview Street in Hyannis Park, one block
away from the Tugboats Restaurant. For the last seven years I have enjoyed going to
Tugboats for delicious food and the incredible harborside view from the outdoor
decks. Current owner Teddy Zambelis bought the establishment several years ago
and has created a successful dining place in West Yarmouth.
I am writing to OBJECT to the Tugboats petition for a Special Permit for live
music/entertainment for seven days per week, all year long from 11.30am to
11.30pm. There are several reasons:
1) The permit is asking to have live music at five different locations within the
restaurant footprint: two of them outside on the decks overlooking the harbor,
just steps away from the docked boats and two of them are just on the other
side of a thin wall off the decks.
2) For several years now, Tugboats has offered live music (perhaps unpermitted?)
on weekends during the summer months and the sounds travel into our home
and yard. There is nowhere for us to go to enjoy the peace of our house or
yard. The noise prevents us from sleeping until late into the night when the
music stops.
3) This permit (based on my reading) DOES NOT regulate how loud the music can
be. Two musicians with amplifiers create a tremendous amount of noise
(evidenced by our experience over the last few summers.)
4) Additionally, the live music performance is in very close proximity to the
harbor. Water travels sound long distances, so anyone in the adjacent water
areas will be impacted by the live music and the disruption it can cause.
5) This permit does not prevent Tugboats from charging money for performances
and allowing a dining establishment to become a 7 days a week de facto
performance venue.
6) This permit would allow this business to play loud music outside from 11.30am-
11.30pm, 7 days a week, all year long, which would have a horrible impact to
the surrounding residents and businesses.
The residential neighborhood Hyannis Park, the surrounding area, and across the
harbor from Tugboats would be negatively impacted by this special permit. This area
has small historic homes used by full time and seasonal residents to get away from
noise and enjoy the quietude. This permit would greatly decrease the quality of life
that has been enjoyed for generations by this small seaside neighborhood. I also
question why this permit petition was presented AFTER the Summer season when so
many of the seasonal residents are out of town.
Tugboats is a good restaurant that, during the Summer season, is packed with
patrons from opening to closing, with people waiting to get a table and spend time
on the deck or in the restaurant. Tugboats is NOT a music venue and I believe the
surrounding neighborhood doesn't want the noise and annoyances from live music
performances from Monday through Sunday, 11.30am-11.30pm, anytime of the year.
I ask the Yarmouth Zoning Board to DISALLOW the Tugboats petition for a Special
Permit for live music/entertainment. Thanks for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Maureen A. Ryan
8 Newbury Street
West Yarmouth, MA 02673