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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5063 21 Arlington St Letter of Opposition 4 12.04.23December 4, 2023 Ann Simeone 138 Bayview St West Yarmouth, MA 02673 Mailing address P.O. Box 1833 Hyannis, MA 02601 Tugboats RECEIVE® DEC 04 2023 YARMOUTH BOARD OF APPEALS I am writing this letter to express my opposition to the zoning change request by the restaurant Tugboats to allow for entertainment and music in their location on Arlington St in Yarmouth via such a change. The restaurant is in a residential neighborhood and has always been in a residential neighborhood. It is currently zoned as a residential entity. The restaurant has not always been a good neighbor although instituting such improvements as valet parking so that cars are not scattered throughout the neighborhood have been welcome. However, there has yet to be a solution for the many people who cannot find the restaurant, including food vendors, who decide to use local driveways, side streets, and the middle of Bayview St as the place to make turnarounds to recalibrate their navigation systems. How is it I know this? I have been in this neighborhood my entire life and I have seen the marina, the hospital, and other institutions in the neighborhood evolve. My family home has been on Bayview St since 1956 when my grandparents broke ground. I am also a customer at Tugboats. I enjoy the restaurant and also the proximity of it to the neighborhood. What I have not enjoyed over the years are the many people who get lost and turn around on Newbury St without regard for driving over my lawn as they turn around. I do not enjoy the loud music that spills over from Trader Ed's and perhaps the restaurant as well. Most of all, I do not enjoy are the overflow people who decide to walk around the neighborhood after they have had too many drinks. I read with interest the letters in support of and in opposition to this change. Those opposed share my primary view that allowing a zoning change to allow for entertainment there is not suitable for a residential neighborhood. Those in support consider Tugboats to be a good neighbor but are essentially in support of an entertainment license for the restaurant. While entertainment licenses can be granted and rescinded, I expect that once a zoning change is instituted, it is hard to rescind, the zoning change will be hard to rescind. Therefore, I stand in opposition with my neighbors on this zoning change. If Tugboats truly wants to be a restaurant that thinks they need music in their establishment, then they should not be zoned in a residential neighborhood and they should not have live entertainment - especially no live entertainment in an outdoor setting. I do not think Tugboats lacks for customers given the traffic around the restaurant all year long. In the many times, I have patronized Tugboats over the years, I have never found it lacking for customers. Personally, if the restaurant cannot support itself with good food, good service, and the location, then music is not going to help sustain its viability. I request that this Board take seriously the implication of granting this current zoning request. think it will set a bad precedent for the neighborhood and the town and eliminate small neighborhood restaurants throughout the town if the zoning designations of residential and commercial establishments are not upheld, signed by acknowledgement that it was sent via email address aesimeone@gmail.com Ann Simeone 138 Bayview St West Yarmouth, MA