Boulder Creek Asks for More

Restaurant Seeks Permit to Expand Seating to 225

By Dagmar Fors Karppi

Two families in the restaurant business since 1907, the Scottos and the Sbarros have a joint venture in Boulder Creek. They are developing restaurants on Long Island in East Norwich, Syosset, Smithtown, Franklin Square and the newest, at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville.

The East Norwich restaurant is in phase two of its plan which they explained at the Dec. 9 town board meeting. The original site had enough parking to accommodate phase II, the opening of an additional inside area for an additional 35 seats bringing to total to 227. The first phase allowed the restaurant to come into existence using the grandfathered 192 seats.

Attorney Anthony LaMarca explained that when the company began the renovation of Rothmann's, town inspectors saw that the interior walls were made of stacked stone. They called it dangerous. There was also an infestation, that couldn't be cured, said Mr. LaMarca.

"They asked for a new building on the old footprint, a different application, which some don't like, but conforms with the existing site," he said. Local residents were dismayed to see the old landmark building razed and only one wall, with the remaining fireplace, incorporated into the new plan.

The original floor plan called for 227 seats, said Mr. LaMarca. The most number, in old records, allowed for 192 seats, so a bargain was struck. The department of Planning and Development said keep one room closed so they sealed off room for 35 seats.

Now, with 192 seats open they were to file for a special exemption to increase occupancy to 227 seats for which they have one more parking space than needed for a total of 162 spaces.

Mr. LaMarca offered solutions to the issue of parking that has concerned local residents. The Department of Planing and Development and a town outside consultant made suggestions and the restaurant has tried to acquire excess parking spaces. They have received permission from Woodstock Farms on Route 106 to use their lot after 5 p.m. every day.

It adds 15 spaces to the plan. The customer has to know the spaces are available, said Mr. LaMarca, and as a local customer, he said he would use the lot.

A traffic expert, Robert Eschbacker said at the peak time, a Saturday evening, there were more than 12 parking spaces available. He said making more room available for customers would help the parking situation since they would be served without waiting around, and therefore would be in and out faster, freeing up spaces.

Mr. LaMarca said Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies also has allowed them to use their lot for additional parking although he did not want to put that offer in writing.

Parking Illegally

Another issue at Boulder Creek is patrons parking illegally along 25A in the access road onto the highway from Route 106. They park in the merge lane.

They have asked the state for additional no parking signs along the road and for cross hatch striping so the site looks like a no-parking area.

At the hearing, Supervisor Lewis J. Yevoli said he would try to talk to the state to have the issues addressed.

Boulder Creek had valet parking when it first opened but it was soon abandoned. The long stack line jutting out onto 25A was dangerous, said Mr. LaMarca.

He said the new building cost $1.1 million and the landscaping cost $16,000. The site employs 25 people and train their people to be excellent workers, said Mr. LaMarca.

The issue of enforcement was brought up and comments ran from "Someone can call a cop," to "Why doesn't Boulder Creek call a cop" which was answered by attorney LaMarca: "They are busy inside" to "Have the maitre d' tell people they have overflow parking and will move a patron's car."

Local resident Henry Rappuhn attended, representing the East Norwich Civic Association. He said the association is not adverse to the 35 seats but rather on the effect on the community because of the hazardous traffic on 25A that will be added to by the additional seating. He mentioned that three people were killed at the Route 106 and 25A intersection in 1983, and said with the law of averages, another serious accident could happen.

"We wish development in the hamlet be slow and not hurried." He said the ENCA wants the traffic problems ameliorated.

"Swapping parking spaces sounds pretty good, but who monitors it?"

Bernice Sachs spoke on behalf of the East Norwich Chamber of Commerce of which she is chair of their menorah lighting committee. She added, Woodstock is a nursery, not a garage; the lease on Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies is up in 1998; 35 single people going to the restaurant means 35 more cars in her experience. Still, she thanked David Plevin, the manager for help with the ENC of C menorah lighting program, and said the restaurant is, "An attractive addition to the community, but then, so am I! David is a wonderful manager and the food is terrific."

She was also critical of parking along Route 106 with the addition to LaPizzeta. She said she can't get into the insurance company along that street, and added, "The quality of life is slowly being eroded in East Norwich."

She suggested the parcel of land west of EXXON is now going at half the original price quoted to them. "With a landscaped parking lot you wouldn't be all over the neighborhood taking up all the spaces."

The board reserved their decision for a future date.