PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Thursday, May 18, 2023; Caribe Bake Shop, 2906 Fulton (between Erin Avenue and Seymour Avenue): At a May 15^th meeting of the Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals residents from the Roberto Clemente Park Block Club voiced their opposition to Caribe Bake Shop’s plans to build a Party Center on the rear of their property. The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3-1 to postpone the case until their July 17^th meeting.

by Chuck Hoven

     At the May 15^th meeting of the City of Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals, residents of the Roberto Clemente Park Block Club expressed their opposition to a party center proposed by Caribe Bake Shop. They asked the Board of Zoning Appeals to deny the requests for variances needed to build the party center. The variances included waving rules about a party center not being allowed in a Local Retail Business District or within 500 feet of a residential district. A variance was also needed because the party center would be within 500 feet of another entertainment use (Roberto Clemente Park). Another variance was requested to limit the number of parking spaces required from 47 down to 43.

     The proposal by Caribe Bake Shop calls for an addition to the rear of the restaurant and bakery that would house four new retail spaces as well as a Party Center with a 90-seat capacity. The proposal calls for the party center to be served by the restaurant’s kitchen, and to be available for rental seven days a week from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. The party center would not serve alcohol and proposes to have security on duty.

     Residents submitted a petition with over 50 names in opposition to the party center. Residents of Seymour Avenue and Erin Avenue also testified about their concerns of how a party center was inappropriate for the residential neighborhood. Testimony included concerns about traffic, parking, delivery vehicles and a concern about how the presence of a party center could disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of the neighborhood. Residents testified that they believed that people would bring their own alcohol to the party center and that may result in unruly behavior that would disrupt the peace and threaten the safety of the neighbors and children coming to and from Roberto Clemente Park on Seymour.

     Concerns were also expressed about the failure of Caribe Bake Shop to live up to promises made concerning its parking area and fencing when the new building for the restaurant and bakery was originally proposed in 2003 and 2007. They noted the dust and damage caused by the cinder parking lot that they had originally been told would be paved and striped. Also, residents told of overflowing dumpsters, damage to the street and their property caused by delivery vehicles and litter left on the street by patrons of the bakery and restaurant.

     The City of Cleveland Planning staff also weighed in at the meeting saying given the opposition of the neighbors the City could not support the placing of a party center in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

     Block Club leader Jeff Burgess noted that the block club has a relationship with Sandra and John Burgos of Caribe and holds their meetings at the restaurant during the winter months. Members were just opposed to the Party Center.

     Nick DeLeon testified that MetroWest Community Development Organization staff had attended a meeting about the project and while it was supportive of additional retail at the site, the organization did not feel comfortable supporting the proposed party center. DeLeon said, “the party center could be problematic.”

     The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3-1 to postpone the hearing of the zoning appeal until July 17^th. In the resolution the Board of Zoning Appeals asked that Caribe Bake Shop work with MetroWest Community Development Organization, City Planning, and the block club to hold a meeting to address the concerns brought up by residents including problems from the gravel in the parking lot, traffic, parking, hours, security, landscaping, and the probable infiltration of alcohol into the party center. The Board of Zoning Appeals asked that a new business plan be brought before it at the July 17^th meeting that would address some of the concerns brought up by residents.

     Board of Zoning Appeals members Terri Hamilton-Brown, Alanna Faith and Nina Holzer voted for the postponement, and Board Chair Kelley Britt voted no.