Features

The Zoning Adjustments Board will once again hear the request for a use permit for the conversion of Wright’s Garage on 2629-2635 Ashby Ave. into a multi-tenant commercial building on Thursday. 

At the Jan. 25 ZAB meeting, residents voiced concerns primarily about parking and traffic, which they said would become worse if a large-scale fine dining restaurant was housed at the proposed commercial building. 

Applicant John Gordon told ZAB members at the last meeting that he had met with representatives of the Claremont-Elmwood Neighborhood Association, Willard Neighborhood Association, Bateman Neighborhood Association and the Elmwood Merchants Group to discuss the project and address the concerns raised at the January 11 ZAB meeting. 

Gordon added that with the help of the neighborhood groups, he had created multiple conditions to help mitigate project concerns related to noise, traffic, parking and use types. 

An open house was hosted at the project site on Jan. 20. Gordon told board members that he would try to mitigate the impact of cars in the area but wouldn’t be able to solve it completely. 

Board members urged Gordon and community members to think about creative solutions with respect to parking in the neighborhood. 

Other matters 

The board will once again hear a request for a use permit to increase alcohol service at the Ethiopian Restaurant on 2953-2955 Telegraph Ave. by adding service of distilled spirits to the existing service of beer and wine, and by increasing operating hours from 8 a.m. to midnight daily to 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily to Jan. 

The board will also hear a request by Timothy Carter to demolish an existing dwelling and build a two-unit building with three stories, a floor area of about 4,372 square feet and two parking garages, on a 4,996-square-foot lot at 2717 San Pablo Ave. 

At earlier meetings, ZAB members had concerns about the proposed building towering over the neighboring buildings on the east and had asked the owner to scale it down.