Adams ZBA Avoids 'Oversaturation' of Asian Cuisine
Update: A check of documents at Town Hall on Wednesday shows Wong received a special permit in 2011, which means the permit is three years' beyond the expiration date.
ADAMS, Mass. — A potential Asian fusion restaurant owner seeking a special permit at Tuesday's Zoning Board of Appeals was upstaged — by another potential Asian fusion restaurant owner just two doors away.
The first was Xing Li, who had applied to operate a restaurant at 131 Columbia St., the former Berkshire County Stoves property.
However, Li chose to withdraw his permit without prejudice because of concerns by the board of oversaturation.
That was because Neil Wong appeared, saying he had already acquired a special permit from the board two years ago to operate an Asian fusion restaurant two buildings down from Li's proposed location.
"I am here tonight against this because it used to be a Chinese restaurant and I bought the building," Wong said. "I don’t think there should be two right next to each other ... I don't think we are going to survive for too long."
Wong purchased 125-127 Columbia St. in 2006. The building, a former bar, was most recently We Happy, a Chinese restaurant; 127 Columbia is an apartment on the second floor that has been recently renovated.
Vice Chairman Brian Tenczar pointed to a zoning bylaw that does not allow similar businesses to oversaturate a specific part of town. He told Li the board would take the bylaw into consideration when making its determination.
"You would have two like restaurants right next to each other," he said. "If you wanted to open a pizza place they are not like businesses and that would be fine because it would not oversaturate the market."
Li asked if Wong's permit was still valid because the restaurant isn't open yet.
Wong said he has done some work on the property and plans to pave the parking lot soon. He said currently he also owns a restaurant in Holyoke, Bamboo House, and has been shorthanded and unable to focus on the former We Happy property.
Wong said he plans to be open in a year to a year and a half.
Tenczar agreed that Wong is still in the construction phase and therefore his permit is still valid. If no progress has been made in two years after the permit has been issued, then it would expire.
"He seems to be continuing to drive in that direction to get it open and although he is not currently open, he has an existing special permit to run a restaurant in that building," Tenczar said. "I have witnessed it myself there has been some work going on there. It has been slow but it's a work in progress."
West told Li that because he asked to withdraw his permit without prejudice, he could come back with a new application for a new location in a different part of town. He said if Li decided to go forward with the current application and the board voted it down, he would have to wait two years before he could apply again.
Tenczar urged Li to do this.
"If you can find another location that is conducive to a restaurant it would be to the town's benefit," he said. "Adams is a business-friendly community we welcome new businesses."
Tags: Asian cuisine, restaurants, ZBA,
