Mar Vista project gets noisy approval

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub has approval to take dining to the next level. On Tuesday, the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved applications for a special exception allowing for outdoor dining and a site plan allowing owner Ed Chiles to proceed with plans to build a second-story deck for the restaurant.

But before the board members voted on each application, Longbeach Village residents made it loud and clear that they have concerns. Specifically, they said the outdoor deck would make their neighborhood noisier and exacerbate parking congestion.

Resident Stephen Garrod told the board that Chiles had not submitted a noise analysis.

“It doesn’t take a noise expert to say that if you take a noise on the ground and push it outside and up, there’s going to be a noise impact,” Garrod said, describing the deck as a “visual and acoustical intrusion into the Village community.”

Sarasota attorney Chris Van Hise, who represents residents Samir and Corinne Ragheb, said that because the restaurant’s square footage would increase, parking increases are also necessary. Staff analysis, however, concluded that the restaurant has the required number of parking spaces, which is based on a formula of one space per four seats for restaurants.

Village resident Brian Feeney worried that the deck would be used for events, such as weddings and large parties, and urged the board not to approve it.

“I think going up a second level is irresponsible for this board,” he said.

Garrod urged the board to consider requiring the deck’s enclosure with something “acoustically competent” and urged Chiles to shield the neighborhood from noise with sufficiently dense materials.

Town staff recommended approval of both applications, which Chiles submitted in September. He initially sought to add 11 seats, which would have increased seating capacity to 180 from the current 169, but he nixed the request after town staff told him it would not recommend the addition.

After board member B.J. Bishop made a motion to approve the site plan, board member Andrew Aitken made a motion for an amendment that would have required Chiles to use “suitably dense material” to shield Broadway and Lois Avenue from noise. The motion failed after it did not receive a second.

Village resident Gene Jaleski said the board showed “visible disdain for residents here and an exuberance to pass these things without discussion” and said it acted without consideration for public purpose.

Bishop disagreed.

“This application is not asking to become a bigger restaurant in terms of seats,” she said. “This application is to improve an aging building that is in need of refurbishment. That clearly has a public purpose.”

The board has approval authority over both applications, meaning they will not go to the Longboat Key Town Commission for approval.

Chiles told the Longboat Observer he plans to pursue construction in the fall and does not plan to close the restaurant for more than a day or two.

The application is Chiles’ fifth attempt at redeveloping the restaurant. Many previous attempts received widespread criticism from Village residents, particularly a plan to restore the historic Rufus P. Jordan House and use it for meeting and event space, which Chiles opted not to pursue.

“Hope springs eternal,” Chiles said after the hearings. “We’re looking forward to continuing to improve what we think is an asset to the Longboat Key community.”

How loud is too loud?
What constitutes a noise violation, according to Longboat Key town codes? Longboat Key Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray told the Planning and Zoning Board that town code does not specify a decibel restriction for noise.

“It’s based on what a reasonable person would consider offensive,” she said.

Planning board member Andrew Aitken said the town needs a decibel restriction.

“I hope when we rewrite the codes, we can be a little more specific,” Aitken said.