Tony Mavuli’s desire to renovate the old salt-box house at 318 Roosevelt Drive and convert it into a restaurant will have to wait a little longer.
Members of the town’s Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission want to walk the property before deciding on Mavuli’s site plan application.
Mavuli owns Villa Bianca, a popular banquet hall on Roosevelt Drive. The house he wants to turn into a restaurant is on the property.
The commissioners generally approved the architectural plans that were presented by Mike Horbal, owner of Michael H. Horbal Land Surveyors & Planners, the Seymour firm that designed the restaurant plan.
But James Baldwin, a commissioner, expressed reservations about the lighting that could blind traffic and shine on the neighboring property. Horbal said the lighting has been designed to be shielded from the highway and the neighbor, but the commissioners called for the site walk to examine the lighting and other landscaping concerns.
The site walk plan was approved by the commissioners and scheduled for Dec. 21 at 3:15 p.m.
Prior to calling for the site walk, the commissioners were prepared to approve the application, pending the issuance of permits from the Department of Transportation and the Valley Health District, which Horbal said are pending, with DOT approval possible as soon as today.
Horbal said area residents are eager for the restaurant, “which will provide a different source of food and entertainment for Seymour and out-of-towners.”
It will also increase the tax base, he said.
Horbal presented detailed architectural drawings to the commissioners before he began his presentation. He noted the home on the site is 2,000 sq. ft. and the renovation will add 2,220 sq. ft. to create the restaurant with wings on the left, right and back.
The restaurant will seat 113 with 21 additional seats in a lounge area.
New sidewalks and decks will be built along with a parking lot for 27 cars. The existing driveway will be moved south to gain better site distance and the road will be lengthened to accommodate southbound traffic.
Tony Mavuli attended the meeting but didn’t speak to the commissioners.
“We’ll abide by their decision, we have no choice,” he said on his way out.
