ZBA approves Roche Bros. food market, defers action on Crunch Gym

[ron_newman]

The Zoning Board of Appeals tonight unanimously approved Roche Bros' proposal for a Brothers Marketplace food store on the first floor of 240 Elm Street, which housed a Social Security office until 2010.

They didn't seem so happy with the proposed Crunch Gym on the second floor, raising questions about how much additional traffic and parking demand the gym would bring to Davis Square. They deferred action on this until their next meeting on November 19.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Which is one reason there's a comprehensive revision of the zoning code underway. Meanwhile, though, the ZBA has to work with what's now in place.

In practice, these requirements often get reduced or waived.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

When you reported "they didn't seem so happy with the proposed Crunch Gym on the second floor" I took that to mean that they were... well... unhappy with the Crunch Gym proposal, for the reasons you listed (traffic reasons). If they were OK with it, they would just issue a variance, as you just indicated. Could you clarify your original comments, because I feel like I'm not interpreting your words the way you meant.

[ron_newman]

The ZBA wants to hear from, and talk to, the person who wrote Crunch's traffic study. He wasn't available to come to last night's meeting. So they deferred action until he could appear before them.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Obviously they already allowed another gym in Davis, so the idea of a gym is okay. I also agree that they would serve a difference audience.