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On expansion planCap’n Henry’s hearing resetBy FRANK RKAGANResidents of Rowayton are op-Kised to the reopening of Cap’n enry’s Restaurant, claiming there is insufficient space for patrons to park while they dine.A public hearing on the issue scheduled for last week’s Zoning Board of Appeals was postponeduntil Feb. 25. About 50 people,representing both sides of the question, attended the meeting.However, since the subject was the last one on the agenda, the hearing was held over. It will be discussed first, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the next ZB A session.The protest is led by Willis Cavanagh and Frank Raymond, who contend that the restaurant’s new owners plan to expand its seating capacity, which in turn, will cause a violation of the city’s zoning code covering parking requirements.“The expansion will bring in extra cars that w ill aggravate the parking situation in the neighborhood.” Cavanagh said. He noted that plans call for serving 40 customers compared with 21 previously.Raymond and Cavanagh live near the restaurant located at 89 Rowayton Avenue. They also signed a letter, along with several other residents, seeking support for their protest.The letter stated that “dense parking on both sides of Rowayton Avenue and side streets will result, impeding through traffic, especially emergency vehiclesand pedestrians.”In response, Kevin Conroy and Steve Cook, who own the restaurant, claimed that the residents’ letter was “filled with false accusations” and that the opposition “appeared to be motivated by an attempt to stop the reopening” and not by a concern for “parking or zoning laws.“In a letter to neighbors, they insisted the parking “will not block the streets or take up space on both sides of the road, impeding emer-Therestaurant was a Rowayton gathering place.gency vehicles or pedestrians.”They stated that the restaurant “will be intimate” and will maintain the “architecture of the original oyster house.”James Bradley, a Norwalk zoning inspector, said that the restaurant conforms to the parking code. The city’s formula requires one parking space for each 45 square feet of active commercial floor area.He explained that the formula refers to the area used by customers while dining. Other areas of the building, such as offices or the space used by waiters to come and go from the kitchen, are notfigured into the formula.During a recent inspection of the building, Bradley determined that the restaurant required 18.7 parking spaces, slightly below the 19.5 established as the number by a 1991 compliance review.However, he noted that the review two years ago missed certain infractions of the zoning code regarding additions and alterations. Variances were not ob-tained for the addition of a second-story office, the construction of two roofed entrances, installation of a metal outdoor storage container and enlargement of an open deck.He said that the owners, who did not own the building when the work was done, were notified Jan. 5 of the findings and given 10 days to apply for variances. They still have not done so.Neither Conroy nor Cook could be reached for comment.Prior to closing in 1990, Cap’n Henry’s was operated as a waterfront luncheonette on Five Mile River for almost 20 years. James Flynn, the owner during those years, served pancakes for breakfast, lobster salad or strip clams for lunch, and you-name-it for supper.The restaurant was noted for “ its casual atmosphere, air of camaraderie between customers and personnel, and a feeling of a cozy club open to all,” the Darien-News Review commented at the closing.Conroy also owns the Rowayton Seafood located on the same parcel of land. He and Cook purchased the restaurant from the late Henry Higgins in 1991.
Newspaper Details
Norwalk News
Norwalk, Connecticut, US
Thu, Feb 11, 1993
Page 8
Full Page
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USA 12 Mar 2022
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