Paul Longtin of Leclerc Realty Corp. of Westfield said he would like to break ground at the former B'Shara's space on Riverdale Street in a couple of weeks.
B'Shara's Restaurant on Riverdale Street in West Springfield several years ago.WEST SPRINGFIELD – A 70-seat takeout, fast-food restaurant may be opening at the site of the former B’Shara’s Restaurant on Riverdale Street.
The Planning Board on Wednesday voted 5-0 to grant the special permit needed to open such a business at 1268 Riverdale St. to Paul A. Longtin’s Leclerc Realty Corp. of Westfield.
Longtin said he wants to wait until a lease is signed with his prospective tenant, probably in a week or so, before he identifies it.
“We have serious negotiations in progress,” Longtin said.
The Westfield businessman said he would like to break ground in a couple of weeks and have work done before the end of the year.
Plans call for demolishing about 4,200 square feet of the existing structure of 7,620 square feet, according to Christopher Shea, the civil engineer with Sage Engineering of Westfield working on the project.
While 40 parking spaces are required, Shea said there will be 41.
Planning Administrator Richard A. Werbiskis said plans for the site, which is zoned Business A, conform to city zoning requirements and would be “a good reuse” of the property. The building at the site has been vacant for more than a year.
“This will be an improvement as to the use of the property,” Werbiskis said.
Traffic is not an issue with the site because only right turns are allowed off Riverdale Street to the site, Werbiskis said. “Traffic is already controlled,” he said.
The only person to express concern about the project was David I. Katz, chairman of the West Springfield Commission on Disabilities. He said he was worried that people using handicapped parking spaces behind the building might not see traffic going to and from the nearby Red Roof Inn.
Longtin said he would work with Katz to make the project as good as it can be.