On the menu for Thursday zoning meeting: more seating for waffle eating

Louis Zanias and Shawn Lawson of Nina’s Waffles at the corner of West Mechanic and New streets have brought life, light and fattening, irresistible foods to a sometimes desolate stretch of New Hope’s nighttime turf. Thursday night at 7 p.m. they will be asking New Hope’s Zoning Hearing Board for a variance allowing indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate 10 customers. Since food service isn’t actually provided at the tables (customers collect their ice cream cones and waffles at the counter), serious opposition to the proposal isn’t expected by some local observers. Nonetheless, anything can happen, and does, in New Hope.

Meeting details from the public notice:

“The Zoning Hearing Board of New Hope Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 7:00 P.M., at the New Hope Borough Hall, 125 New Street, New Hope, PA, 18938, to consider the application of Louis Zanias and Shawn Lawson, regarding Tax Parcel No. 27-10-88-2 which is located at 31 B West Mechanic Street in New Hope Borough’s CC, Central Commercial District. The applicant requests a special exception, pursuant to §275-31.B.2.a of the New Hope Borough Zoning Ordinance, in order to permit the use of the subject property as a village restaurant. Additionally, the Applicant requests a variance from §275-17.S.2 in order to provide more than ten (10) seats for customers. Materials regarding this Application may be examined at the New Hope Borough Hall during normal business hours and on the date, time and place of the Hearing.”

(Update 10:30 p.m. Sept. 6: Decision postponed to Sept. 13 meeting)