barcade.com
New Haven is becoming a little more Brooklyn, as Barcade preps to move to Orange Street.
The Brooklyn-based combination bar and arcade got the green light to open in Ninth Square at 56 Orange St., after a unanimous Board of Zoning Appeals vote Thursday night.
The proposal first came to the zoning board in July, then was referred to the City Plan Commission, before returning Thursday. Barcade was granted five variances and two special exceptions, which the founders argued were necessary because of outdated law governing arcades.
Founders asked for variances to allow 50 game machines, instead of the three-machine maximum; to allow two game machines per 100 square feet of area where a maximum of one is allowed; to allow no space around the machines where three feet of side clearance and eight feet of front clearance is required; to not provide an attendant for the machines; and to allow no off-street bicycle stalls instead of 24.
They were also granted a special exception to allow no off-street parking spaces where 25 are required in a central business/residential district and a cafe liquor license instead of a restaurant license.
Zoning commissioners Thursday approved the request under the conditions that the bar close at 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, that owners consult with neighbors to ensure noise is kept under control, that no live music or DJs be allowed, and that security is provided.
At the July meeting, Town Green Special Services District representatives spoke in favor of the zoning requests and said they had worked hard to court the owners to bring their business to New Haven.
Two neighbors spoke out against Barcade — arguing that something different should replace Ninth Note. Robert D’Amico, who lives above the property, said he worried the space would be noisy and disruptive. Lawyer Albert Annunziata stressed that the owners plan to soundproof the space.
The main complaint from neighbors was that “it wasn’t going to be a jazz club,” said zoning commissioner Charles Decker before voting to approve the requests.
Decker said he has patronized Barcade’s Brooklyn post. “I enjoyed it,” he said.