Caseus Outpost Advances;
On-The-Go Store Stumbles

A proposed tavern on Whitney Avenue cleared another hurdle on Wednesday, when its late night hours were approved in the name of neighborhood safety.

Plans for Bibere, a wine and cheese venture by Caseus restaurant owner Jason Sobocinski (pictured), won the approval of the City Plan Commission at its monthly meeting on Wednesday. Sobocinski is looking for zoning relief to allow him to open a tavern in a residential zone. He also wants permission to have zero parking spaces at the site, where the several are required by law.

The commission signed off on Sobocinski’s plan on Wednesday and even recommended allowing him to stay open until midnight, rather than 11 p.m., as City Plan staff had proposed. Commissioner and East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker convinced his colleagues that later hours would mean more eyes on the nighttime street and therefore more neighborhood safety.

The matter now returns to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for a final vote in September.

The commission also voted on a controversial enterprise planned for another residential neighborhood — the convenience store proposed for 145 Blake St. Commissioners agreed with neighbors who oppose the plan, and voted not to recommend approval. The BZA will have a final vote on that item in September.

When commission Chair Ed Mattison suggested that Bibere close at 11 p.m. out of concern for late-night noise, Elicker responded, ​“I feel pretty strongly that this will be a great asset to the community. Also, pedestrian traffic at night is a great thing.”

Elicker said the tavern should not be restricted to 11 p.m. when Sobocinski had requested 12 a.m. One hour will not make that much difference in terms of additional noise, but it will make a big difference in neighborhood safety., he said

“How can you say that?” Mattison responded. He asked Elicker if he had ever lived above a restaurant.

It’s not likely to be incredibly loud, Elicker said. Outdoor seating is not part of the application, and although Sobocinski plans to apply for that, it can be restricted later. ​“Something open later is an asset,” Elicker said.

As a ​“tavern,” Bibere would not have a full liquor license, pointed out Tom Talbot, deputy director of zoning.

“I withdraw my objection to midnight,” said Mattison. He joked that he was doing so only because Elicker said it was a good idea.

Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Bibere plan.

Inconvenience

Later, commissioners took up the matter of 145 Blake St. The long-abandoned gas station (pictured) was recently purchased by convenience store entrepreneur Tahir Choudhry, who hopes to turn it into an ​“On The Go” quick-stop store.

That plan hit a roadblock last week, when neighbors turned out at the BZA meeting to oppose it. Beaver Hills Alderman Carl Goldfield promised a lawsuit if the BZA approves Choudhry’s plan.

The proposal suffered another setback on Wednesday night, when the City Plan Commission voted to recommend against approval.

“I know this area very well,” said Mattison when the item came up on the agenda. The abandoned garage has been a persistent eyesore, he said. ​“It’s horrible!”

Mattison expressed concern that the property would stay vacant if the city doesn’t approve someone’s idea for the location. ​“What can they do with this property?”

Karyn Gilvarg, head of the city plan department, said it could be, among other things, a flower shop, a residence, or a coffee shop. But it’s not appropriate to have a high turnover business like a convenience store at a busy intersection with multiple school bus stops that’s also a walking route to school, Gilvarg said. ​“I believe there are other uses.”

Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend denial of the convenience store proposal.