The restaurant Page at 63 Main Street on Tuesday presented the latest iteration of its expansion plan before the Sag Harbor Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. The restaurant’s management hopes to expand up to the second floor of the building, netting an extra 41 seats, bringing the total number of seats to 165 — a proposal that would see the second-floor zoning classification changed from residential use to commercial use.
The zoning board, while generally supportive of the plan in previous sessions, opted to table a formal vote until its December meeting, when it will further explore whether Page’s plan would set a precedent for other restaurants to follow suit in the future.
It’s the issue of parking spaces, rather than seating specifically, that paved the way for Page’s plan. A 2014 zoning code amendment in Sag Harbor allowed restaurants to reduce the amount of parking it is required to provide, from one space for every three seats to one space for every four seats. According to Tiffany Scarlato, an attorney representing Page, this allowed restaurants to add seating as long as they conform to New York State code.
“Nearly every restaurant in the village has taken advantage of this seating increase,” Ms. Scarlato said, which “legally increased dining seating” by 25 percent.
Page, however, does not right now have the floor space to accommodate more seating in accordance with New York State building codes. If its plan is approved, the restaurant would be permitted to convert the second floor, to go from 3,806 square feet up to 6,415 square feet in total, without adding any parking spaces, allowing it to capitalize on the same advantage as other eateries.
During the public comment section of the meeting, Nada Barry, co-owner of the Wharf Shop, brought up the issue of delivery trucks that she said often block people in. She worried an expanded Page restaurant would increase their frequency.
“The Baldor’s delivery truck is there daily, even on Sundays,” Ms. Barry said. “At one point, I had to come over and get the police to help get me out because they were getting a delivery from both sides of our driveway.”
Ms. Scarlato said the restaurant does not anticipate receiving any additional deliveries and proposed a coordination between village restaurants and the police department to better handle deliveries on Main Street.
Another point of contention came from Tim McGuire, a zoning board member, who was concerned with how the seating area off Division Street known as Back Page would affect the overall square footage and restaurant seating. According to Ms. Scarlato, Page got approval in 2013, and an affirmation in 2015, that Back Page can be used as a waiting area.
“Do you accept that it has been open for dining for several years with eight, or 10, or 12 tables there — correct?” Mr. McGuire asked.
Both Ms. Scarlato and Elizabeth Vail, the zoning board’s attorney, explained that this specific issue is what the village’s planning board is now debating.
Ms. Scarlato described a “covenant” that will go before the planning board, in which Page will use the Back Page area as a waiting area only, not for additional restaurant seating.
“It won’t add to the seating of the restaurant,” Ms. Vail added. “It’s going to be more specifically restricted by conditions of approval and then also by a covenant that’s recorded against the property.”
The zoning board is to meet next on Dec. 17, the planning board on Dec. 18.
