HomeMy WebLinkAbout5063 21 Arlington St Decision Certified 02.05.24FILED WITH TOWN CLERK:
PETITION NO:
HEARING DATE:
PETITIONER:
PROPERTY OWNER:
TOWN OF YARMOUTH
BOARD OF APPEALS
DECISION
February 5, 2024
5063
December 14, 2023
The Harbour Club Inc. dba Tugboats Restaurant
Wayne Kurker,
Trustee of the Hyannis Marine Service Realty Trust
PROPERTY: 11 and 21 Arlington Street, West Yarmouth, MA
Map 28, Parcel 17
Zoning District: R-25
Title: Book 19021, Page 200 and Certificate # 174350
MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING: Chairman Steven DeYoung, Sean Igoe, Richard
Martin, Jay Fraprie, and John Mantoni
Notice of the hearing has been given by sending notice thereof to the Petitioner and all those
owners of property as required by law, and to the public by posting notice of the hearing and
publishing in The Cape Cod Times, the hearing opened and held on the date stated above.
At the initial hearing on November 9, 2023, the petitioner requested a Special Permit per
§ 104.3.2(4) for N3 Use to allow entertainment/live music at the Tugboats Restaurant and a
waiver from the requirement for a certified siterplot plan less than two years old. At that hearing,
the Board determined that the petitioner does not have a lawfully preexisting nonconforming use
for entertainment and the petitioner would require a Variance because N-3 Use in a residential
district is not allowed by Special Permit in the Zoning Bylaw. As a result, the petitioner needed
to amend the application to include a request for a Variance. The hearing was continued to
December 14, 2023.
For the December 14, 2023 hearing, the amended application included two additional forms of
relief: a request for a Variance and a request to reverse the decision of the Building
Commissioner who determined that the use of the restaurant in a residential zoning district is a
nonconforming use, and any expansion of said use would require further relief from the Zoning
Board of Appeals.
At both hearings, Attorney Steven Pizzuti presented on behalf of the petitioner. Wayne Kurker,
property owner, and Ted Zambelis, restaurant manager, were also present atAtletkWY ATTEST
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The building and all appurtenances are situated on Parcel 17 shown on Yarmouth Assessor's
Map 28. The property is located in an R-25 zoning district and is currently operating as a
lawfully preexisting nonconforming restaurant. Mier various renovations, the building's square
footage is roughly 7,600 square feet. The restaurant is permitted for 254 seats, plus room for 70
persons standing as approved by the licensing authority.
The property itself is located on the Yarmouth -Barnstable town line and in Yarmouth it is zoned
as R-25 Residential and in Barnstable it is zoned as HH Hyannis Harbor District. In a Yarmouth
residential zone, single and multi -family homes are allowed and commercial uses are very
minimal. The Hyannis Harbor District is characterized by a mix of commercial, maritime
industrial, and residential development and the presence of commercial ferry services.
The Petitioner seeks to add live music at the Restaurant. The Petitioner is expecting that
occasional live performances of one or two musicians will complement the dining experience or
a private party. The new use would not involve bringing in significantly more patrons but would
enhance their overall experience.
The Board agreed with the Petitioner's presentation of the Variance criteria. A literal
enforcement of the bylaw creates a substantial hardship because this is a lawfully preexisting
nonconforming building and restaurant use of commercial nature in a residential zone. It would
not be feasible to tear down the building or use the building for residential purposes because the
building and use are surrounded by other commercial uses within a boat yard. A hardship owing
to the circumstances relating to the shape or topography of land or structures exists because the
property is unique in that it is located in two towns and is zoned differently in each town. In
Yarmouth, the property is zoned residential but in Barnstable the property is zoned Hyannis
Harbor which is highly commercial. The property in Barnstable is dependent on the Yarmouth
property for access. The nature of the whole property is commercial. The structures on the
property are commercial in nature and to convert it to something otherwise it is not practical or
feasible. Finally, relief can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good because
there would not be a substantial change from what is already taking place at the property. The
change to allow entertainment is not going to increase traffic or parking nor is it going to
increase the number of seats in the restaurant. There are buildings that insulate the restaurant
from the residential neighbors thereby reducing the noise. It is the Petitioner's belief that the
infrequent entertainment will not interfere with regular dining but instead will enhance the dining
experience.
Ten abutters wrote letters in favor of the Petitioner's request for live entertainment with two
speaking at the hearing. Five abutters wrote letters in opposition to the said request with two
speaking at the hearing.
Generally, those in favor believed entertainment would be beneficial for the restaurant
experience and the surrounding area. They believed that the property was very well -managed and
respectful to the neighbors and cited as examples the implementation of valet parking and the
prohibition of street parking. Those in opposition generally felt that there would be an increase in
traffic and noise. There were comments that the hours of 11:30 am to 11:30 pm were
A TRUE COPY ATTEST.
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FEB 2 8 2024
unacceptable and disrespectful to the neighborhood. Additionally, there was a concern that live
entertainment would result in a nightclub environment.
The Board was generally receptive to entertainment at the restaurant; however, they had several
questions about the frequency of entertainment, concerns for amplification, and potential for
noise emitting from the property to the surrounding neighborhood. The Petitioner explained that
entertainment would consist of one-two musicians or singers and possibly a disc jockey and that
the entertainment would occur most frequently in the shoulder seasons to accompany tour
groups, Christmas parties or even baby or bridal showers. They intend that entertainment will be
more of an irregular occurrence rather than a nightly or weekly event. The Board discussed at
length the five potential locations within the restaurant where entertainment could be played that
were shown on a floor plan submitted with the application.
The Board addressed each of the five locations where entertainment could be situated within the
restaurant which were depicted on a floor plan submitted with Petitioner's application for relief.
They discussed having no issues with the indoor locations for entertainment but did express
particular concern with Zone #1 on the rear deck and Zone #5 being the upstairs bar area. The
Board felt both zones appeared to be more susceptible to sound escaping from the building.
Different remedies were discussed for how to contain the noise such as a seasonal heavy-duty
curtain, no amplification, regulating the entertainment hours, and such other conditions.
A Motion was then made by Mr. Fraprie, seconded by Mr. Mantoni to approve the request to
waive the requirement for a Site Plan less than 2 years old. Chairman DeYoung took a voice vote
and the members voted unanimously in favor (5-0) to waive the requirement for a Site Plan less
than 2 years old.
A Motion was made by Mr. Fraprie, seconded by Mr. Mantoni, to grant a Variance with the
following conditions:
- Hours of operation for live music only in all areas shall be from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm;
- In order to minimize the sound escaping to abutting properties, there will be no
entertainment in Zone #1 unless there is a protective isinglass barrier around the deck
area highlighted in yellow on Tugboats Entertainment Plan marked as Exhibit 1 at the
December 14, 2023 hearing;
- Only one musician with no amplification shall be allowed in Zone #5 being the upstairs
bar area;
- Restaurant is allowed a one- to two- piece ensemble in only one zone in the restaurant at
any one time;
- The petitioner must return to the Board for a one-year review with the petitioner
providing any and all complaints made to the Yarmouth Police, so that the Board may act
to continue, modify, or rescind the grant of a Variance; and
- This Variance is restricted to this petitioner. If there is a change in the ownership, then
the Board must be notified and a further hearing must be held to seek a new Variance.
A TRUE COPY ATTEST.
On a roll call vote (5-0), the Variance, with the stated conditions, was approved.
- Mr. Igoe: AYE
- Mr. Mantoni: AYE
- Mr. Fraprie: AYE
- Mr. Martin: AYE
- Chairman DeYoung: AYE
The petitioner requested to withdraw the Special Permit without prejudice. A motion was made
by Mr. Fraprie and seconded by Mr. Mantoni. On a voice vote (5-0), the request to withdraw the
Special Permit was allowed. The petitioner requested to withdraw the request to reverse the
decision of the Building Commissioner without prejudice. A motion was made by Mr. Fraprie
and seconded by Mr. Mantoni. On a voice vote (5-0), the request to withdraw the request to
reverse the decision of the Building Commissioner without prejudice was allowed.
No permit shall issue until 20 days from the filing of this decision with the Town Clerk. Appeals
from this decision shall be made pursuant to MGL c40A section 17 and must be filed within 20
days after filing of this notice,"decision with the Town Clerk. Unless otherwise provided herein,
the Variance shall lapse if a substantial use thereof has not begun within 12 months. (See MGL
c40A § 10)
Sean Igoe, Vice Chair
CERTIFICATION OF TOWN CLERK
I, Mary A. Maslowski, Town Clerk, Town of Yarmouth, do hereby certify that 20 days have
elapsed since the filing with me of the above Board of Appeals Decision #5063 that no notice of
appeal of said decision has been filed with me, or, if such appeal has been filed it has been
dismissed or denied. All appeals have been exhausted.
Mary A. Maslowski, CMC
FEB 2 8 2024
uE C PY ATTEST:
1 f EB TOW) -
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN OF YARMOUTH
BOARD OF APPEALS
Petition #: 5063 Date: February 26, 2024
Certificate of Granting of a Variance
(General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 10)
The Board of Appeals of the Town of Yarmouth Massachusetts hereby certifies that a Variance has been
granted to:
PETITIONER: The Harbour Club Inc. dba Tugboats Restaurant
PROPERTY OWNER: Wayne Kurker, Trustee of the Hyannis Marine Service Realty Trust
Affecting the rights of the owner with respect to land or buildings at: 11 and 21 Arlington Street, West
Yarmouth, MA; Map 28, Parcel 17; Zoning District: R-25; Title: Book 19021, Page 200 and Certificate #
174350 and the said Board of Appeals further certifies that the decision attached hereto is a true and correct
copy of its decision granting said Variance, and copies of said decision, and of all plans referred to in the
decision, have been filed.
The Board of Appeals also calls to the attention of the owner or applicant that General Laws, Chapter 40A,
Section 11 (last paragraph) and Section 13, provides that no Variance, or any extension, modification or
renewal thereof, shall take effect until a copy of the decision bearing the certification of the Town Clerk that
twenty (20) days have elapsed after the decision has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk and no appeal
has been filed or that, if such appeal has been filed, that it has been dismissed or denied, is recorded in the
Registry of Deeds for the county and district in which the land is located and indexed in the grantor index under
the name of the owner of record or is recorded and noted on the owner's certificate of title. The fee for such
recording or registering shall be paid by the owner or applicant.
5
Sean Igoe, Vice Chair
!lauE COPY ATTEST:
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FEB 2 8 2024 .