Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
A catering business to be located on Park Street in Orono received zoning approval by unanimous vote at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Orono Town planning board.
“The Thai Kitchen” will be operated by Aaron Stupakewicz and Sumalee Sungvean as a delivery-only catering service from 14 Park St. Stupakewicz hopes to open the business by August 2010 after renovations have been completed to the garage that will serve as the kitchen space. The main house will remain a duplex-style residence, with one half shared by Stupakewicz and Sungvean and the other divided into six apartments.
Six board members and a handful of residents attended the meeting at 7 p.m. in the council chamber of the Orono town hall.
The agreement reached between the town and Stupakewicz included the stipulation that the business’s parking area would not be increased in size to accommodate customers or work vehicles and that any possible complaints from neighbors about traffic at the business would result in a review of the zoning permission by the planning board. The parking area currently can hold eight vehicles, and Stupakewicz said he planned to eliminate traffic issues by only taking new tenants who do not own a car.
“You understand that we are asking you not to enlarge that in any dimension?” asked Vice Chairperson Chris Dorian, to which Stupakewicz agreed.
The agreement also ensures the business will not affect the residential feel of the neighborhood. It allows limited advertisement and one sign to designate the business’s location, which is within a high-density area but rests on the edge of a medium-density zone. Residents raised concerns that approval of one business permit within a residential area would begin a trend in the neighborhood, but board members assured home occupation reviews will continue to be judged on an individual basis. The planning board has previously approved home occupation reviews for individuals starting businesses in residences within high-density zones without issues in the neighborhood.
“Try to keep it from standing out as a business rather than a residence,” Chairperson Mark Attridge said.
New signage for the Harvest Moon Deli on Mill Street was also approved by the planning board in a unanimous vote. The plan presented by Keith Manaker — one of the owners of Harvest Moon — calls for two signs; one that extends from above the doorway of the building and an identical replacement for the current flush-mounted unit made from a more durable material.
The addition of a large, heavy sign above Harvest Moon’s doorway raised safety concerns from some of the council members, but Manaker assured everyone the unit would be constructed and installed by a company that specializes in the trade. The new piece will be 2 feet wide by 8 feet tall, adding 16 square feet of signage to the front of the building but remaining within the 45 total square-foot zoning restriction for the building.
Stupakewicz and Sungvean have lived at the residence on Park Street for the past eight years. Stupakewicz said Sungvean has been a fixture of the local restaurant scene for the past eight years as owner of the Thai Orchid and is happy she has the opportunity to start a new business venture.
“She has a very loyal following in town,” Stupakewicz said.
