BERLIN—The Historical District Commission approved proposed signage for a new restaurant slated to open at 104 Pitts Street by April, but had to reschedule ruling on a second proposal due to the lack of a quorum, during the first meeting of the year on Jan. 8.
Justine Zegna, owner of Planet X in Rehoboth, is planning to open a second chef-owned restaurant in Berlin. She requested approval from the commission that the signage for the Pitts Street establishment (Case # 1-8-2014-1) complied with the archeological and architectural requirements of buildings in the historic district. The two voting members of the commission, Mary Moore and Rick Stack, approved the request. As chair of the commission, Carol Rose could not vote.
During a period of informal discussion, Zegna said the restaurant would provide a fine dining atmosphere along with an area for purchasing takeout meals and a counter seating section where diners with limited time could eat quickly. She said she was rethinking her original name for the restaurant, which the Carriage House, because she learned the original business that had existed at the location had actually been a blacksmith shop. The seating capacity will be approximately 70, she said.
The signage and logo of the upcoming restaurant will include homage to the blacksmithing origin of the building, according to Zegna. She said she was working with local chef Toby Gilbert and local establishment Burley Oak Brewery, to develop cuisine based on historical Eastern Shore recipes and would be using local organic produce providers for the menu items.
The goal was to make the atmosphere and cuisine of the restaurant amenable to patrons seeking a sophisticated venue for a special meal while keeping the fare simple enough to be affordable. “It has to be affordable,” she said, and “It has to have names people can pronounce.”
The commission members commended Zegna on her stated goals. Moore pointed out “Everybody, no matter how sophisticated their palate, appreciates simple fare.”
Cody Bates, the owner of recently opened Burley Inn Tavern, which is not affiliated with the Burley Oak Brewery, was in attendance to request approval for signage for his restaurant and bar at 16 Pitts Street
(Case # 1-8-201-2). Due to a lack of a quorum, the commission had to schedule a special meeting for Jan. 16 to accommodate his request.
Offering their apologies, Rose explained that one member was absent due to a death in the family and another had a work-related engagement. But unlike Zegna, in the case of Bates’ request, Stack had to recuse himself from the vote, since his company had served as a consultant in the renovation of Bates’ restaurant.
Stack suggested that Planning Director David Engelhart request Mayor Gee Williams appoint an alternate commission member to fill a vacancy that currently exists on the commission.
The current commission membership consists of Carol Rose, as chairperson; Rick Stack, as vice chairman; Ellen Lang, who was absent; Mary Moore; and Joel Todd, who was also absent.
Lang filled one of the two vacancies that had previously existed on the commission: those of Betty Hammond, who left in 2012, and Katie Gaskins Matthews, who is no longer on the commission. The commission’s sixth position, however, has not yet been filled.
A similar shortage of members exists on the Board of Appeals. The members on that panel include Joe Moore, as chairman; Woody Bunting, as vice chairman; Doug Parks, and Geren Mortensen. Two positions previously held by Sonny Adkins, who resigned, and Fred Pierdon, who died, remain vacant.
At the meeting’s end, Engelhart informed the commission that a building at 408 Main Street, which had been in litigation for more than 10 years, had been purchased during a town auction by local restaurant developer Ernest Girardi.
Engelhart called Girardi’s purchase of the building “good news” since Giradi was already aware of the architectural requirements of the historical district, had a reputation for high quality projects, and had stated that he would be rebuilding the edifice from its foundation and framing, rather than seeking to tear it down to rebuild.
The commission also approved the minutes from its Oct. 2 meeting.
Justine Zegna, owner of Planet X in Rehoboth, is planning to open a second chef-owned restaurant in Berlin. She requested approval from the commission that the signage for the Pitts Street establishment (Case # 1-8-2014-1) complied with the archeological and architectural requirements of buildings in the historic district. The two voting members of the commission, Mary Moore and Rick Stack, approved the request. As chair of the commission, Carol Rose could not vote.
During a period of informal discussion, Zegna said the restaurant would provide a fine dining atmosphere along with an area for purchasing takeout meals and a counter seating section where diners with limited time could eat quickly. She said she was rethinking her original name for the restaurant, which the Carriage House, because she learned the original business that had existed at the location had actually been a blacksmith shop. The seating capacity will be approximately 70, she said.
The signage and logo of the upcoming restaurant will include homage to the blacksmithing origin of the building, according to Zegna. She said she was working with local chef Toby Gilbert and local establishment Burley Oak Brewery, to develop cuisine based on historical Eastern Shore recipes and would be using local organic produce providers for the menu items.
The goal was to make the atmosphere and cuisine of the restaurant amenable to patrons seeking a sophisticated venue for a special meal while keeping the fare simple enough to be affordable. “It has to be affordable,” she said, and “It has to have names people can pronounce.”
The commission members commended Zegna on her stated goals. Moore pointed out “Everybody, no matter how sophisticated their palate, appreciates simple fare.”
Cody Bates, the owner of recently opened Burley Inn Tavern, which is not affiliated with the Burley Oak Brewery, was in attendance to request approval for signage for his restaurant and bar at 16 Pitts Street
(Case # 1-8-201-2). Due to a lack of a quorum, the commission had to schedule a special meeting for Jan. 16 to accommodate his request.
Offering their apologies, Rose explained that one member was absent due to a death in the family and another had a work-related engagement. But unlike Zegna, in the case of Bates’ request, Stack had to recuse himself from the vote, since his company had served as a consultant in the renovation of Bates’ restaurant.
Stack suggested that Planning Director David Engelhart request Mayor Gee Williams appoint an alternate commission member to fill a vacancy that currently exists on the commission.
The current commission membership consists of Carol Rose, as chairperson; Rick Stack, as vice chairman; Ellen Lang, who was absent; Mary Moore; and Joel Todd, who was also absent.
Lang filled one of the two vacancies that had previously existed on the commission: those of Betty Hammond, who left in 2012, and Katie Gaskins Matthews, who is no longer on the commission. The commission’s sixth position, however, has not yet been filled.
A similar shortage of members exists on the Board of Appeals. The members on that panel include Joe Moore, as chairman; Woody Bunting, as vice chairman; Doug Parks, and Geren Mortensen. Two positions previously held by Sonny Adkins, who resigned, and Fred Pierdon, who died, remain vacant.
At the meeting’s end, Engelhart informed the commission that a building at 408 Main Street, which had been in litigation for more than 10 years, had been purchased during a town auction by local restaurant developer Ernest Girardi.
Engelhart called Girardi’s purchase of the building “good news” since Giradi was already aware of the architectural requirements of the historical district, had a reputation for high quality projects, and had stated that he would be rebuilding the edifice from its foundation and framing, rather than seeking to tear it down to rebuild.
The commission also approved the minutes from its Oct. 2 meeting.