SAUGUS — Scott Cameron, who is the engineer for the property on 266, 266R, and 268 Broadway, also known as the address of the now-closed Continental Restaurant, spoke at the latest Planning Board meeting to discuss the plans of the property for co-owners, Paul and Chris Kourkoulis.
There has been a stir in town recently, as residents have tried to figure out why major construction is happening behind the property.
Cameron explained that the property is 17.5 acres, with the main frontage on Broadway, and it extends into three parcels.
He said the restaurant is currently under “substantial renovation.
“The reason why, earlier this day, kind of late last fall, Chris and Paul approached me again was that they obtained a lease with a new restaurant that’s going to operate the building. That’s the renovation that’s underway right now,” he said.
That restaurant ended up being Charkoal’s Brazilian Steakhouse.
“It’s a full renovation. They’re not changing the footprint of the building, but they pretty much brought it down to studs, updating all the electrical, plumbing, everything,” Cameron said.
Part of the lease was to obtain 125 parking spaces adjacent to the building.
Chair John O’Brien asked how many parking spaces they currently have, and the answer given was 60. He followed up with how many the restaurant will be seating, which will be 500, the same as the Continental.
The target opening date is in February.
“There wasn’t a lot of communication between the owners, building department, conservation, which we did go before… and the people doing the actual renovation work. Wires were crossed, but as soon as we learned of it, work was stopped, obviously. We filed an application, and we’re here tonight,” Cameron said in regard to the clearing and grading that occurred on the property.
The Conservation Commission gave an amended order of conditions.
The current work being done is for parking expansion, according to Cameron.
“What the proposal is, and we call this phase one, the restaurant has a tenant, and we need to get parking for that. We also don’t want to landlock other portions of the property,” he said.
There is also currently a warehouse building at the far back of the property, which has been used for personal storage. However, the belief right now is that it’s underutilized, and there is hope that something could go there in the future.
“All of these considerations were put into the design of this,” Cameron said. “We try to plan ahead and make sure we’re not making any mistakes, because there’s quite a bit of investment and sitework here that has to happen to do this.”
A new driveway, like an entrance, will help with truck deliveries, fire apparatuses in case of emergencies, and a way for customers to get to the back lot.
“I’m concerned if you’re parking way back there, you then have to walk all the way back in,” Board Vice Chair Jeanette Meredith said.
Cameron said sidewalks have been designed for access and a safe walking route.
Another change is an extension of the water and sewer utilities.
“We don’t necessarily have to bring those online, but again… we want to make sure we have access. We don’t want to be ripping it up again in two to three years,” Cameron said.
O’Brien noted that they don’t know what they’re putting there yet, but Cameron said studies have been done to see what could be done back there, and everything has been sized for it.
Town Engineer Larry Durkin asked how they know the town’s system will be able to handle what they are trying to add.
“You’re proposing connections and you’re telling me you sized stuff, but I can’t tell you that the town’s system can handle one. We’ve had several developments along Route One, and we do actually have people show what they’re proposing, and then we do a water model… To make sure that our water system can hold that,” Durkin said.
Durkin continued that it looks like a lot of plans are set, but the Board hasn’t been told anything about it.
“So, on the engineering and utility side, I don’t have any idea what you’re proposing,” he said.
Cameron said that they aren’t sure what they could possibly put up in the future because there are other factors that could impact that decision.
“We are preparing for the future,” he said.
Paul Kourkoulis said that an informal meeting was held with Town Manager Scott Crabtree to discuss possible plans, but at the time, the town wasn’t open to their proposal.
“My brother and I decided we’re going to try and develop it ourselves on a smaller scale and something that the town will probably be more agreeable to… We always tried to be good citizens of the town, so I apologize if we didn’t go through the right channels… We’re just trying to foresee the future,” Kourkoulis said.
O’Brien and Meredith both noted that it would be helpful if they had more time to look at the plans, and Durkin said this project would include significant additions to the system without anything being told to engineering or the DPW.
The Board also acknowledged that they know the Kourkoulis’s weren’t trying to go behind the town’s back with the construction.
A motion was made to continue the hearing.
