JP Licks, Deluca's Market to Appear at Beacon Hill Zoning Meeting

Article and event info provided by the Beacon Hill Civic Association:

JP Licks, Villa Mexico and Deluca’s on BHCA agenda
Ice cream cones, Mexican burritos and all edibles in between are on the menu December 7 at the Beacon Hill Civic Association’s Zoning and Licensing Committee meeting.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., representatives of JP Licks Ice Cream, Villa Mexico Café and Deluca’s Market will ask committee members not to oppose the zoning variances, permits and licenses they need to do business on Beacon Hill.

Boston-based JP Licks wants to change the use of the street-level premises in the Charles Street Garage building from law offices to a restaurant with take-out in order to open a ‘homemade ice cream cafe.’ Such a use requires a conditional use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeal plus a CV license for serving food from the Licensing Board. The applicant anticipates having twenty indoor seats plus two benches on the sidewalk in front of the premises.

Villa Mexico Cafe has filed plans with Inspectional Services Department to renovate the street-level premises in the building at 12 Grove Street for use as a small take-out restaurant. The owner has operated a similar take-out restaurant in the Grampy’s Gulf for about 5 years. The proposed building is situated between Cambridge and Phillips streets in a residential zoning district where commercial uses are forbidden, thus requiring a variance from the Boston Zoning Code.

The proposed operation does not require the use of stoves or ovens so no external venting would be necessary. There would be no seating or on-premises consumption of food or beverages.

Finally, the owner of Deluca’s will present his latest plans for a redesign of the market. The plans indicate that he wants to expand the market into the ell at the rear of the Branch Street building on the existing ground floor and basement levels for storage purposes only, including the indoor storage of trash. Because the ell is situated in the residential zoning district, the use may require a zoning variance.

Deluca’s plans also indicate that there would be tables and chairs at the front of the 7 Charles Street building for 20 persons to drink coffee and eat sandwiches and snacks. This would likely require a CV license for serving food.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at 74 Joy Street. Anyone with questions and comments regarding one of the matters to be heard are encouraged to attend. Those unable to attend who would like to express an opinion may call (617-227-1922), write (74 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02114) or send an email to the BHCA office (suzanne.besser@bhcivic.org) prior to the meeting. Plans, photos, additional information and updates on each matter will be posted at www.bhcivic.org.