Claremont
Sandra Holl is hoping to reopen the popular eatery but has had to come up with a site plan that prevents restaurant patrons from driving on any part of the large parking lot owned by Claremont Plaza Associates.
Brickers is a standalone building on the paved lot and an easement that allowed shared parking expired shortly before the restaurant closed in 2013
Board members were angered by an apparent unwillingness on the part of the plaza owners to negotiate a new easement that would allow patrons of Brickers to use parking spaces owned by the plaza.
“Everybody has got to get along,” board member Vic Bergeron said to Paul Bauer, the attorney representing the plaza owners, who were not at the Monday night meeting.
Bauer said his clients have “no interest” in renewing the parking easement but later said they would be willing to look at any proposal. “We have not seen one yet,” Bauer said, promising to discuss the board’s request with the owners.
The plaza, which has several stores including Big Lots, Dollar Tree, American Mattress and Domino’s Pizza, is owned by Rosen Associates Management Corp. of Jericho, N.Y.
Contacted on Tuesday, a woman at the firm relayed a message saying Rosen Associates had no comment at this time.
The site plan includes guardrails separating the properties, a new curb cut with a right hand exit only on to Washington Street and a single entrance at the western end of the restaurant.
Safety and protecting his client’s private property rights were the reasons for the requested guardrails, Bauer said several times.
In a letter to the board, Bauer said to “dissuade trespassing on CPA property” his clients want signs installed on the guardrails, facing the plaza stores, advising people the lot is for plaza customers only and violators will be towed; with another, similar sign, in the entryway of the restaurant.
“It will also help to ensure that BJ Brickers customers will not be towed while dining at the restaurant,” Bauer wrote.
Board members were irked by the possibility that someone who spent money at plaza stores then steps over the guardrail to have dinner could have their car towed.
Pressed on the issue by board member Dave Putnam as to whether cars would be towed, Bauer said they don’t want to tow cars but his client is concerned about its private property rights.
Nick Koloski, a city councilor and board member who recused himself because he is an abutter to the plaza, said the signs were going to hurt business.
“Nothing says enjoy your steak like a sign telling you that your car might be towed,” Koloski said.
The board, which voted to make a site visit before deciding on the application, said the complex traffic configuration and the guardrails would not be necessary if the two owners could agree on a new parking easement.
“Isn’t it about time smart business people put aside their differences, sit down and come up with a simple solution?” asked Bergeron. “This doesn’t have to be. That restaurant brings you (your tenants) business.”
Board members also felt the new configuration reduces safety for drivers.
“Actually, you are putting more people at risk and I put that on your shoulders,” Putnam said.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
