City Council approves coffee shop opening on Revere Beach Parkway

  The City Council voted 7-0 to grant a petition to grant a mixed-use special exemption for Parkway Ventures LLC at 1911-1919 Revere Beach Parkway during Tuesday’s City Council meeting at City Hall.

  Attorney David O’Neil, who represents Parkway Ventures LLC, said the property was originally permitted for residential use, but it’s located in a business district along the parkway. Plans envision retail and residential use. “It has a welcoming lobby situation for a 1,500-square-foot coffee house on the street level,” O’Neil said. “Whatever business goes in there would be required to offer employment to Everett residents first.”

  Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Matewsky, who will vote in favor, asked how many units would be in the building. O’Neil replied that it would feature 141 units with 105 parking spaces on-site with unused parking spaces available at an adjacent public storage facility. “I hope we can add some parking for the commercial part of it,” Matewsky said. “There’s three Dunkin’ Donuts in every direction of the parkway.”

  Matewsky was concerned that the council recently approved a restaurant along Broadway with only approximately 36 parking spots. “We have a lot of developments going on,” Matewsky said. “As your Ward 1 councilman, I’m very concerned with parking.”

  Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith, who requested favorable action, asked what the Zoning Board of Appeal’s role is. The Zoning Board of Appeals has the authority to grant a variance. O’Neil said that in the business district the council has the authority to approve a mixed-use parcel.