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

Restoring Cornwall's lost Revolutionary War grave markers

Bill Dinneen, left, and Ivan Kotchoubey, age 7, place a recently restored grave marker at the headstone of David Mallery, a Revolutionary War veteran, in Cornwall Sunday, May 25.

Photo by Riley Klein

CORNWALL — On Sunday, May 25, Cornwall held a powerful ceremony to honor local veterans of the Revolutionary War.

At the cemetery on Route 4, about 25 attendees gathered to witness the placement of 10 grave markers. Bill Dinneen of the Cornwall Historical Society and Warren Stevens led the ceremony.

Keep ReadingShow less
Big Blue lax wins Founders League

LAKEVILLE — The Hotchkiss School girls lacrosse won the 2025 Founders League championship with an 11-10 victory over Choate Rosemary Hall May 21.

The Bearcats battled back from behind by as many as four points.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marvelwood lacrosse goes back-to-back in HVAL

The Marvelwood lacrosse team poses for a group photo May 20 after winning the HVAL title for the second year in row.

Photo by Lans Christensen

KENT — On Tuesday, May 20, Marvelwood School lacrosse defeated Woodhall School 15-9 in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League tournament final.

It was second straight HVAL championship win for the Pterodactyls and their fifth league title since 2018.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mountaineers strike gold at BL track championships

HVRHS sophomore Ryan Segalla went three-for-three May 17 with Berkshire League gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. He was also on the gold-winning 4x400m relay team.

Photo by Riley Klein

Berkshire League track and field wrapped up a season of competition with the league finals in Litchfield May 17. The BL festival followed with decathlon, heptathlon, steeplechase and hammer in Falls Village May 20 and Thomaston May 21.

The events included athletes from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Gilbert School, Lakeview High School, Nonnewaug High School, Northwestern Regional High School, Shepaug Valley High School, Terryville High School and Thomaston High School.

Keep ReadingShow less