By Justin Leitgeb

What’s going on with the former Starbucks location in Pittsford Village?

Last Monday, the Pittsford Zoning Board of Appeals voted to approve a variance necessary for a new restaurant to open in the place of the former Starbucks in Pittsford Village (5 State Street). With this approval, Rachel’s Mediterranean Grill is able to move on to next steps for their new planned location in Pittsford Village. I do not have an exact date for their opening, but I hope that you visit them to welcome them to the Village when they are ready!

Picture of 5 State St

Why was a variance necessary for Rachel’s Mediterranean to open?

Those of you who have seen the parking lot in front of the old Starbucks may have noticed that it felt a bit cramped. In fact, the number of parking spaces was not sufficient for the number of seats (Rachel’s is looking to have 24 seats, Starbucks previously had 25) in the restaurant per our Village Code. Starbucks had a variance to allow their operation with the substandard parking lot.

This variance expired during the time that the space has been vacant (since Starbucks moved across the street to the library). The Trustees asked for some pedestrian safety features (bollards) to be installed for the use of the lot to be continued, and the issuance of the area variance by the ZBA (based on our assessment of the State-mandated criteria for the issuance of area variances) will allow the space to be used by Rachel’s.

The parking lot is still not perfect, but it will be safer than before, and a new restaurant will be able to use the space thanks to our Code, the work of our Village Board and the area variance granted by the ZBA.

For more details, feel free to peruse the application packet reviewed by the ZBA at our meeting on July 15.