Uma Ramiah Photo
Allan Appel Photo
The view from Nica’s back lot.
After a few failed expansion attempts, Nica’s Market on Orange Street is trying again with a new lawyer — and a more subtle plan for site improvements.
“Essentially, we’ve requested some variances to perform some changes on what is a longstanding non-performing parcel,” Nica’s attorney Marjorie Shansky told the East Rock Community Management Team Monday evening at “Little Hooker” School.
If the plan is approved, Nica’s would maintain its current 40 percent lot coverage. The first floor of the grocery would expand from 2,446 square feet to 4,366. (Only 1,500 square feet are currently permitted under zoning law; the grocery has permission for the 2,446.) The grocery would also expand outdoor seating from 15 to 24 spots.
With help from zoning attorney Tony Avallone, Nica’s originally sought to “decongest” the popular spot in 2009 — then scrapped that plan. Then the grocery/cafe attempted a more serious expansion last year; the plan was met with resistance from city officials and neighbors. That proposal called for a larger retail area and kitchen, a second-floor space with 12 seats for eat-in customers and an additional off-site parking lot on Humphrey Street. The zoning board rejected the plan. (Read more of the details here.)
Now, Nica’s is back with Shansky and slightly reduced ambitions.
Shanksy and Rosanna Sabino — she owns Nica’s with her father and brother — stopped by Monday night’s meeting without a formal presentation. “We thought we’d just come by to answer any of your questions about the proposed plan,” Shansky said.
The plan, she explained, would move the lot line while maintaining the same percentage of development. “We’d simply add an entryway that feeds the lunch crowd, if you will, so they aren’t stacked in the grocery store. They’ll feed into this opening.”
See a version of the plan here.
“The addition conforms to all zoning ordinances — in that makes it a minimal impact,” said Shansky. “We’d just be reconfiguring in a small way to honor the 18 parking space limit, but we’d add new landscaping making it easier for trucks to access the building.”
Nica’s would also add a small office on the second floor of the new structure, she said, and a reworking of the existing kitchen space.
Members of the management team had a question: What’s the difference between the last proposal and this one?
“The last proposal had a tremendous amount of increase to the size of the second floor which was going to be used in a passive way,” said Shansky, “but fear was that it would be used in an active way that would intensify use of the property.”
The current plan increases the second floor space from 396 to 928 square feet for office use only.
Team member David Streever questioned the impact on neighbors. “One of the things I remember from the old proposal was that it walled in the neighbors bay windows,” he said. “This one won’t do that?”
No, Shansky replied. “The architect designed this in a way that is most conforming with the zoning ordinances.”
East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker expressed concerns. “Two frequent complaints I hear are about overflowing garbage in the back of the building, and truck deliveries blocking the roads on Orange and Bishop,” he said.
Sabino spoke up, noting that garbage is picked up every day at Nica’s. “There’s a daily pick up including Saturday,” she said. “There’s staff out there picking it up too. We have limited space so our containers aren’t huge.”
Shansky noted the expansion could allow for a bigger container. “Perhaps we could accommodate a larger Dumpster,’ she said.
And with respect to trucks, she continued, there’d be a much more generous ability for the truck to drive in. “There’s actually a place here where trucks can wind back,” she said, pointing to the plan.
Elicker circled back to the concern about trucks being able to pull in to the lot with the amount of parking. “Is that adequate space?” he asked.
It’s now been designed for that, Shansky said.
“This plan will provide a better, safer flow for the customers,” she said.
Nica’s application goes in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals next Tuesday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m in the Kennedy Mitchell Hall of Records on 200 Orange St., public hearing room G‑2. If passed, the city will conduct a site review before any approval is made.
The next East Rock Community Management Team Meeting will be held Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m at “Little Hooker” School on Canner Street.