The Zoning Board of Appeals Thursday approved a variance that allows Villa Bianca owner Tony Mavuli to build an addition on a historic home on Route 34.
The approval brings Mavuli one step closer to opening a restaurant at the site — which sits at the corner of Route 34 and Route 188.
Mavuli plans to open the renovate in a 1757 house that sits next to Villa Bianca.
The restaurant will offer a mixed menu — sushi, steak, brick-oven pizza and Italian offerings.
Click here to read more details about Mavuli’s proposal for the property.
The variance allows the addition to be built within six feet of the Route 34 right-of-way — land to the side of roads that, in this case, is owned by the state.
Mavuli also had to get approval from the state Department of Transportation to build that close to the right-of-way.
He said the state is requiring him to widen Route 34 on the eastbound lane — which is the side of the road overlooking the Housatonic River.
Mavuli said his next step is to bring his plans to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a site plan approval.
The ZBA, during the public hearing on the proposal, read a letter from the Economic Development Commission citing its support of the proposed restaurant.
