Dave and Busters is Denied

After months of negotiations and testimony, the Planning Board voted last night to deny the to open a 40,000 square foot restaurant and entertainment facility at 90 Middlesex Turnpike.  Member Ernie Coveno was on the subcommittee that met numerous times with the applicant and its counsel.

“The subcommittee tried very hard to make this work. We asked them to reduce the size of the building. They did not. We asked for rear access. That could not be done,” said Coveno. “It is trying to fit square peg in a round hole,” he said.

One by one, all the planning board members agreed with Coveno siting problems with traffic, parking, U-turns and underage drinking concerns.

Member Paul Raymond said that there was no flexibility of the part of the applicant.

“The discussions were rather futile,” he concluded.

The sole proponent of the plan was member Jane Hyde.

“I think what we got was what was in the PDD,” said Hyde.

Hyde added that she believes further education of Town Meeting Members is necessary to insure that they understand the nature of Planned Development Districts.

Chairman Roth disagreed stating “[Dave and Buster’s] is a use which deviates substantially from what was presented at Town Meeting.”  He added “The limitations of the site were well known by the owner.”

Attorney Robert Buckley of Reimer and Braunstein, who was present representing Dave and Buster’s, expressed his disappointment but politely thanked the Board for their time. The possibility of litigation by the applicant against the Planning Board remains, although Buckley did not publicly indicate any such plans at the meeting.