Restaurant plan proposed for former Lakeville firehouse
A new restaurant is being proposed for the former firehouse in Lakeville.
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

Restaurant plan proposed for former Lakeville firehouse

SALISBURY — The Planning and Zoning Commission continued until Dec. 13 a public hearing on an application to turn the former firehouse at 9 Sharon Road into a restaurant with an apartment upstairs.

The first session of the hearing on Monday, Nov. 15, raised numerous questions about parking and the impact on abutters.

The building is currently home to the Green Cafe and Studio Lakeville, a fitness center.

Capecelatro said his clients operate four restaurants in New York state. The plan calls for about 90 indoor and outdoor seats for dining and for a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor for workforce housing.

The restaurant would be run by Luciano Valdivia, who has opened Cucina in Woodstock, N.Y., Market Street in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and Barbaro in Millbrook, where Giovanni Scappin is chef. Scappin is also an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and would be the chef at the proposed eatery.

Engineer Pat Hackett appeared for the owner of a neighboring building, Pocketknife Square, and initially complained that the notice to abutters was done improperly.

Mark Capecelatro, attorney for the applicant, Firehouse Place LLC, replied that the notices were done properly, and the commission accepted that.

Hackett then spoke about possible impacts on his client’s property, and tried to show various photos and maps to make his points. The commission found it confusing and Chair Michael Klemens and commission member Bob Riva both rebuked Hackett for being unprepared.

There was considerable discussion about the number of parking spaces available, how that number was calculated, and the impact on existing nearby businesses (including several restaurants).

Commission member Marty Whalen noted that the restaurant plans to hire between 30 and 35 employees. Assuming half of them are at work at any given time, he continued, the employees will require roughly 17 parking spots.

The hearing adjourned after about an hour, and was continued to Dec. 13. Klemens, Land Use Administrator Abby Conroy and attorney Chuck Andres will work on a resolution in the interim.

The commission asked the applicant for a clearer site plan that addresses questions on parking, screens and buffers for neighboring properties, loading and dumpster plans, and plans for outdoor dining.

Latest News

Frederick Wright Hosterman

KENT — Frederick Wright Hosterman passed away peacefully in his home in Kent on April 16, 2025. Born in 1929 in Auburn, Nebraska, he was the son of farmers. He attended a one-room schoolhouse just outside of Brownville, Nebraska, adjacent to his family’s farm. The little brick schoolhouse is still standing! After graduating from high school, Fred attended the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), eventually earning a master’s degree in agronomy. He took a job with Monsanto in Buffalo, New York, where the company was a pioneer in applying biotechnology to agricultural sciences. In Buffalo, Fred met his future wife, Dorothy. Fred and Dorothy moved to New York City for several years in the early 1960s, before settling down in Norwalk. In Norwalk, Fred and Dorothy had three children. The family later moved to Kent. In 1980, Fred and Dorothy divorced, and Fred bought a large tract of land on Carter Road in Kent. He built a house there, largely by himself, which he maintained until his death at age 95. After taking early retirement, he spent the following decades working on his property, adding various buildings, woodcrafting, landscaping, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nancy (Case) Brenner

CANAAN — Nancy (Case) Brenner, 81, of Canaan, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, following a long illness on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

Nancy was born on April 10, 1944, to the late Ray Sargeant Case Sr. and Beatrice Southey Case. She was the second youngest of five children, predeceased by her three brothers, Ray S. Case Jr., David E. Case and Douglas C. Case, and her sister Linda (Case) Olson. She grew up in New Hartford and Winsted, where she graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 High School.

Keep ReadingShow less
Adam Rand

SHEFFIELD — Adam Rand, 59, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in his home on April 22, 2025, after a long battle with ALS.

Adam was born on April 6, 1966, to Lee and Charles Rand II of Boston, Massachusetts. Adam spent his early childhood in Nantucket, where his love of fishing and water was born before moving to Sharon. It was here where he made many lifelong friends and later graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1984. He attended Hiram College in Ohio before settling in Connecticut.

Keep ReadingShow less