By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Planning Board unanimously approved Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse’s enclosed patio project during a recent meeting.
WS Development Associates Asset Strategy and Development Director Chris Boyce recalled that Davio’s proposed constructing an enclosed four-season patio on the sidewalk next to the high-end restaurant as part of an expansion project that also includes expanding into the current Bluemercury building. An outdoor patio containing six seats will be set up in front of the Bluemercury building.
Boyce also requested a variance to remove a planter that previously included two trees.
“Those two trees were removed in 2019 without formal approval,” said Boyce. “As part of our waiver application, these trees would be relocated.”
Boyce recalled that the Planning Board asked him to examine whether the enclosed patio’s size could be reduced and/or whether the sidewalk could be widened.
“We studied the interior patio,” said Boyce. “To lose even one or two-feet there starts to lose seat count. It changes the business plan for Davio’s and changes the accessible corridor width between the tables and the servers’ dimensions, and reduces the seat count.”
Boyce said WS Development proposed widening the sidewalk from 8-feet to 9-feet.
“You would have a 9-foot accessible hardscape area,” said Boyce. “It will be accessible for wheelchair access and pedestrian use.”
Boyce stated in a letter sent to the Planning Board that, “the light pole adjacent the existing crosswalk has also been proposed to be relocated to replace the existing signage banner pole within the planter bed.”
“We feel that we kind of cleared up this area and made it as wide as would be needed for pedestrian access,” said Boyce during the Planning Board’s meeting.
Planning Board member Amy MacNulty asked what is the occupancy for the new enclosed patio.
Boyce said the enclosed patio will have 72 seats and an additional six seats will be located in the outdoor patio that will be located in front of the Bluemercury building.
“It’s 78 total,” said Boyce.
Planning Board Chair Page Wilkins asked if the kiosk directory located near Davio’s will be relocated as part of the enclosed patio project.
Boyce said WS Development is exploring whether to relocate the kiosk directory.
“We want to make sure it is visible from all angles and people know where to look to find their next destination,” said Boyce. “We don’t have imminent plans today, but that may be shifted.”
Architect Walter Adams, who reviewed the project as the Planning Board’s consultant, said the proposed Davio’s enclosed patio project complies with the Design Standards for MarketStreet Lynnfield.
“I think it is very nice,” said Adams. “I like what they did and I like the colors they had chosen. There are no doors facing the street. The doors are facing a side entrance on the side closest to the former Bluemercury space.”
Adams said his review did not involve Davio’s expansion into the Bluemercury space and the outdoor patio.
Planning Board member Ed Champy said constructing the enclosed patio on a slightly expanded sidewalk “still feels tight to me.”
“We always want the business plan to work well for the town, Davio’s and MarketStreet because I think it is a big part of the community,” said Champy. “Coming in and saying it gets too tight financially struck me as being odd.”
Adams said the sidewalk “does meet” the Design Standards.
Planning and Conservation Director Emilie Cademartori said no department heads opposed the proposed Davio’s enclosed patio project.
MacNulty said her “initial reaction” to the Davio’s enclosed patio was “visceral about the size and feeling it was pressed for space.”
“The pictures were very helpful,” said MacNulty. “The fact that they came back and squeezed in the 9-foot sidewalk is a good thing. It is not ideal, but I do like the design. I think this is a really nice elegant design. On the other side, I don’t like coming around the corner and hitting a wall there. I like that open feeling as you walk down towards the Apple Store and you have got The Green on your right. They are meeting the standards, and I would vote to support it.”
Champy also said he supported the project even though he said the proposed location is “tight.”
“I think that the design is very nice,” said Champy. “When I walk by some of the newer structures that were put up, they are not nearly as nice as this.”
Wilkins said the proposed enclosed patio’s location “seems very tight.”
“When we saw it with the cones set up, I had the same reaction and felt it was very claustrophobic,” said Wilkins. “We had an architect look at it and give us his thoughts. I think the most we could probably get out of the Design Standards is 10-feet, so would another foot make a significant difference?”
Champy said he “didn’t want to screw it up for a foot.”
“I would rather have it work than have the foot,” said Champy.
While Planning Board member Brian Charville said the additional foot would not have an impact on the exterior of the site, he said it could have an impact on the interior of the enclosed patio.
Wilkins said she agreed with Champy that she wants the project to be “successful.”
Planning Board Vice Chair Kate Flaws said the project complies with the Design Standards for MarketStreet.
“If it meets the Design Standards, I don’t see we have grounds not to allow it,” said Flaws. “I would vote in favor of it.”
Flaws said the Planning Board’s decision to designate the Davio’s enclosed patio project as a major change and not a minor change to the Planned Village Development District (PVDD) for MarketStreet Lynnfield was the right decision.
“This was important and was a good exercise,” said Flaws. “I am glad we treated it as a major change because the result we arrived at was better than the initial proposal. It shows that the process works.”
There were no members of the public who weighed in on the Davio’s enclosed patio project.
After the discussion, the Planning Board unanimously approved the major change for the Davio’s site on the condition that an updated plan including the six-seat outdoor patio is provided to the Planning Board. The Planning Board also approved the tree spacing variance request.