Council to Hear Public About Cabaret Application

The New Rochelle City Council will take charge of considering an application for a cabaret license by a restaurant about which council members have concerns. 

The Pelham Road restaurant , which is located where Mama Francesca's was, applied for a special permit for a cabaret license. At a recent meeting, the City Council voted itself lead agency in order to begin the environmental review process required by the state. Mama Francesca Restaurant Corp. is doing business as Siete Ocho Siete, according to the application.

The city may issue a permit if the occupancy limit does not exceed 250 persons and complies with such requirements as noise abatement and identifying the impact on residences and businesses within a 500-foot radius of the establishment.

A public hearing on the application was set by the council for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12.

Siete Ocho Siete's existence in the southern New Rochelle neighborhood hasn't been an entirely pleasant one, according to Councilman Albert Taratino, R-District 2.

He has said at previous meeting where the restaurant was discussed that he found all the the complaints he has been receiving "frustrating."

The Quality of Life Task Force found four violations for noise in March.

Tarantino said there have also been concerns about parking in the strip mall.

"The applicant controls about one third of the parking lot," he said, "with the rest owned by another entity." The restaurant has a parking lot across the road as well.

A recent visit one evening to the strip mall found no places to park. Other businesses in that location include a laundromat, Foodtown supermarket, , a florist and a dry cleaner.

"Would it not be sensible to do some sort of agreement to be sure those parking spaces are going to be available," Tarantino said.

He also said the restaurant said it will have extra security on hand for Friday and Saturday nights when there is live music.

"Sometimes there may be a cabaret on a Tuesday," Tarantino said, adding there needs to be something in the application requiring security whenever there is live music.

Councilwoman Shari Rackman, D-District 6, said the concerns will be addressed after the council has accepted responsiblity for the environmental review and after it has heard the public comments.

"I just want to be clear on these things early on," Tarantino said.