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Blake's eyes new life with fewer restraints
(by Barbara Christian - October 29, 2008)
Blake's eyes new life with fewer restraints
By BARBARA CHRISTIAN
The Chagrin Falls planning and zoning commission voted 4-1 last week to recommend a new occupancy agreement between the village and Paul Seegott, owner of the Blake's Restaurant property on River Street.
The restaurant plans to open under a new name and different cuisine, according to Blake's owner Joseph Saccone, if it can get some concessions from the village.
According to Mr. Seegott and Mr. Saccone, Blake's is the only restaurant in Chagrin Falls that pays for its parking. Other restaurants have been allowed to open, expand seating capacity and open patios with little resistance, they said.
The new restaurant layout calls for new patio seating and expanded interior seating.
Commission member Patricia Baker voted against the agreement, while members Nancy Rogoff, Michael Houston, Pamela Lange and Councilman James Watterson favored it.
Mr. Seegott and Mr. Saccone are planning to take over the small park east of the restaurant and turn it into patio seating. The park area had been opened to the public in an earlier agreement with the village, in exchange for Blake's getting permission for curbside parking and valet service.
The park would be replaced with a public walkway and observation decks overlooking the Chagrin River falls. The restaurant would eliminate the employee outdoor smoking and trash areas, Mr. Saccone said.
Mrs. Baker said she would prefer the riverbank to remain green.
Mayor Thomas Brick, who was in the audience, said the village parks commission agreed that the walkway and observation deck would be good for the village.
A lease agreement, perhaps with a token $10 payment per year, would be made with the village. Mr. Saccone would be responsible for building the walkway and observation deck according to the village code.
Mr. Seegott and Mr. Saccone are to go before the board of zoning appeals to ask for a variance against 130 parking spaces, based on 260 seats. A second variance is needed for a front-yard setback of 20 feet so that patio seating could be installed.
Village Administrator Benjamin Himes said the setback request is similar to those granted to the Rick's Cafe and the Village Exchange patios.
Mr. Saccone would open 11 parking spaces in front of the restaurant for the public and reserve four spaces in front of the patio area. He has said he will lease some parking and look for other nearby parking, but those agreements have not yet been reached.
According to Mr. Saccone, he began renovations last April and had planned a reopening in June. But he stopped work he realized it did not make sense financially when leases, rent and valet expenses were figured in, he said.
He said more restaurant seats and the option to be open for lunch are needed to make the restaurant viable.
While the village eliminated parking requirements for the central business district along Main Street, the Blake's building it outside the delineated area and still subject to the old standards.
Thomas Neff, president of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, also located on River Street, told the appeals board that he favors more business activity there.
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