The Reading Zoning Hearing Board has approved the revised plan for a controversial parking lot at a northwest neighborhood sports bar.
The zoning board rendered its decision Wednesday at its monthly public hearing.
Board members last month heard the appeal of limited partnerships, TMC1 and TMC2, owners of Platinum Sports Bar, 220 Douglass St., for parking on adjacent properties at 730 N. Third St. and 743 Thorn St.
Reading Zoning Board denies bar’s request for 18-space parking lot in Centre Park Historic District
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The properties on Third and Thorn streets are within the Centre Park Historic District, while the bar property is not.
The restaurant is permitted as a preexisting nonconforming use in the R3 Residential Zone where the properties are located.
A surface parking lot is permitted as an accessory use.
A previous appeal by the owners for a similar parking plan was denied by the zoning board in January 2023.
In its denial, the board found the proposed use and relief would negatively affect neighboring properties and traffic flow along Thorn Street.
At that time, a group of neighbors from the historic district strongly objected to the plan, saying increased parking availability would lead to an expansion of the nonconforming use, resulting in more traffic and noise in the residential area.
Reading Zoning Board denies bar’s request for 18-space parking lot in Centre Park Historic District
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Some residents attempted to object to the parking lot again last month, but were asked by Steven H. Price, zoning board solicitor, to limit their testimony to the requests of the appeal.
“The parking lot is an allowed use in this zoning district,” Price said, “so that issue is not in front of the board.”
The biggest difference between the two plans is in the design of the parking lot, Emily Diaz-Melendez, city zoning administrator, explained in an email last month.
The new design better complies with the requirements of the city’s zoning ordinance, she said, but lacks a required buffer, necessitating the appeal for relief granted Wednesday.
The 18-space lot will include two spaces for residential tenants and 16 spaces for employees and patrons of the bar and restaurant business.
The plan still needs to be reviewed by the city planning commission.
Source: Berkshire mont