Campo di Bocce request for a variance is denied

By Jeff Kearns

Planning commissioners rejected Campo di Bocce's application for a seating and parking variance March 10 by a 4-2 margin.

The restaurant and bocce ball facility was seeking legal recognition of increased seating and the necessary parking it needs to operate those seats.

Commissioners Jim Lyon and Paul Bruno voted to grant the variance. Campo di Bocce may appeal the decision to the Town Council.

Commissioner Sandy Decker praised the restaurant, but said she couldn't vote to grant the variance. "Campo di Bocce adds incredible vitality to our [light manufacturing] zone," she said. "If it could stay a good neighbor to the residents, then it adds what we're trying to add, which is a new urbanization."

The restaurant offered an arrangement to park cars on two nearby lots which it had leased, and proposed that if it lost those leases it would immediately remove the seats. Campo di Bocce has 27 on-site spaces, and 30 in the nearby lots. "We have an overabundance of parking stalls in the surrounding area," said Ken Rodriguez, speaking for owner Tom Albanese.

The restaurant originally applied for the variance in February 1997, two weeks after it opened. In its original application, Campo di Bocce was granted approval for a snack bar with 70 seats, but now operates a full-service restaurant with 120 seats.

"It's not a snack bar," Rodriguez said. "It's grown to something different."

Although many praised the successful restaurant for providing a unique facility to the town, going the extra mile to be a good neighbor and offering its services to nonprofit causes, some neighbors still say they have problems with parking and noise.

"We've settled a lot of the issues with our meetings, but I'm still concerned about the noise," said Chris Wiley, who lives across the street. "I just want them to be considerate of us." Wiley says she's annoyed by buses and limousines idling in front of the restaurant, but says she's hesitant to call police.

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