Building Inspector Takes Blame for Permit Snafu as Restaurant Expansion and Solar Home Plans Come Before Board—September 23, 1981

During a zoning board of appeal hearing, Building Inspector John E. Grover took full responsibility for a permitting oversight regarding major renovations at The Nicholas restaurant on Route 1.

Building Inspector Takes Blame for Restaurant Remodeling Permit Oversight

Grover admitted he overlooked a specific condition when issuing a building permit for additions to the restaurant, which was formerly known as Dutchland Farms and later as John Cornetta’s Iron Horse Restaurant. Because the property is situated in a manufacturing zone by special permit, any expansions required a formal special permit approved by the board, Grover explained.

Co-owner Nicholas J. Philopoulos noted that construction—estimated to be about half completed—was halted pending the board’s decision, though Grover permitted workers to put a roof on the addition to protect it from weather. Purchased by the Philopoulos family in May and reopened on July 4, the restaurant has enjoyed strong business. The proposed expansion features:

• A “greenhouse” dining room on the front side seating about 50 diners, with offices above.
• An enclosed loading dock on one side and an enclosed storage room at the rear to help accommodate private functions and meetings.

No public objections were raised during the hearing. Dom Giampietro, describing himself as part-owner of Alpha Beta Park at 1400 Boston-Providence Highway (Route 1), spoke in favor of the project, stating the family would “bring it back to where it was.” However, board member Joseph J. Randall noted a potential legal issue, pointing out that site plans show two corners of the existing building infringing on a public sewer easement, prompting the board to postpone its decision pending a site inspection on Saturday morning.

Solar Home Proposal on Railroad Avenue Draws Mixed Neighbor Reaction

In a separate hearing, the board took under advisement a variance request from Donald Venterosa of 394 Normandy Drive, who seeks to construct a sophisticated solar-powered home on land owned by Daniel J. Flaherty of 44 Prospect St. at the stub-end of Railroad Avenue.

While the combined 24,000-square-foot area exceeds the 15,000-square-foot minimum required in the single-residence zone, the parcel is 11 feet shy of the mandatory 125-foot street frontage. The project drew mixed responses from neighbors:

• William Scherban (471 Nahatan St.) and John Russo (40 Pine St.) expressed concern that squeezing a new home into the crowded area would tighten the neighborhood and threaten existing trees and peaceful quality.
• Pius Amirault (400 Railroad Ave.) raised no objections.

Designed by John T. Hutzenlaub of Milton, the proposed residence is intended as a “hybrid solar structure, applying principles of active and passive solar energy plus super insulation,” marking the area’s first super-insulated home resulting from two years of research and development.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger