On Tuesday, members of the Planning Board spoke with Hometown Diner owner Rudy Rosalez, attempting to define how the business has changed since he took ownership, and whether it has grown outside the confines of what was originally approved for the property.
The Planning Board said they wished to also speak with the owner of the property before making any decisions about how or if to proceed.
Rosalez recently took ownership of the diner, and as part of outdoor dining during COVID-19, added a barbecue, and planned music events and lawn games to his business vision.
The board asked Rosalez to clarify whether the barbecue portion of the business is included within the purview of the Hometown Diner or a separate business. Rosalez told the board that the barbecue aspect of the business is under the umbrella of the diner.
Board members also had concerns that the business had changed beyond the original scope it was approved for. The space was originally approved as an eating establishment with a capacity of 45 people and six employees in the restaurant. In the past, the diner has held regular events such as motorcycle and classic car nights, which were permitted events.
Rosalez argued that the diner has had outdoor seating for years, and also held events similar in scope to live music events.
The board decided to discuss the issue further with the owner of the property before deciding if the business needs to undergo an updated site plan review or other board process. A secondary meeting on the issue has yet to be scheduled.