Members of the Greater Bustleton Civic League last week supported a plan to move a Dunkin’ Donuts shop from one part of Grant Plaza II to another.
The proposal needs a special exception from the zoning board and a variance, which is what the league’s members OK’d at their Nov. 19 session at American Heritage Federal Credit Union’s Carriage House on Red Lion Road.
But they didn’t give the nod unanimously and not without extensive discussion.
Attorney Steve Pollock said the donut shop, which has been operating at the shopping plaza on the 1600 block of Grant Avenue for more than 25 years, needs a special exception to run a takeout business, which he said will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The store also needs a variance for some of its signs.
To get the members’ backing, Pollock said the store owners will agree to adjust the dimensions of a sign so it isn’t as large. The attorney also said there would be no banner signs outside the store and that a hole in a fence would be repaired and maintained.
The vote was 23–2.
Members also learned their long fight against a small business being run out of a house on the 9900 block of Haldeman Avenue will continue. Back in 2012, residents overwhelmingly opposed legalizing a dental retainer-making business in the house near Haldeman and Red Lion Road, but the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment gave the owner a three-year variance.
The league took the zoners to court and won, but a new hearing was delayed until this past summer. The zoners then reversed their earlier decision.
Members were told last week that the owner will go to court to try to overturn the recent unfavorable ZBA decision.
The league membership voted to donate $200 to the upcoming 7th Police District Christmas party for kids. ••
