Proposed expansion to McShea's delayed again
For the second straight month, Dewey Beach Town Council has tabled a conditional-use application for a proposed 750-square-foot expansion to McShea’s Beach Pub and Grill.
The June 12 tabling means the expansion has now been working its way through the town’s approval process since the March planning commission meeting. The expansion has the restaurant taking over the former Electric Banana storefront immediately to the north.
Ownership of the restaurant at 1705 Coastal Highway has changed hands since the proposed expansion was tabled in June. Long time owner Rich Robinson sold the establishment to Tom Simpson, a former employee.
Simpson told council members he worked for McShea’s during the 1990s before moving to New York City, where his most recent job had him managing a number of restaurants. He said those restaurants were all in the 6,000-square-foot range and it was a $15 million-a-year operation.
Simpson said he came back to Dewey Beach because it was an opportunity to branch out on his own.
Simpson said McShea’s has a reputation for just being a bar, but he wanted to rebrand it as a place for families, with a solid menu and good service.
Simpson said there was a void in this type of restaurant in Dewey Beach, and he wanted McShea’s to fill it.
“There’s a need for good food,” he said.
Commissioner Courtney Riordan didn’t deny there was a void in family dining, but, he said, there is a void in service in other areas too. Laughing as if it was hard to believe, he said there are lines to get into the bars on the weekends after 11 p.m., and he was concerned the expansion would end up catering to those individuals.
Riordan said he could not approve the expansion unless there was a commitment by Simpson to close the new section down by 11 p.m.
Commissioner Dave Jasinski questioned the layout of the addition. He said he would be in favor of Simpson rearranging the floor plan to be more representative of a restaurant.
Robinson was asked by council during the May meeting to provide a more clear representation of the floor plan on the blueprints. Simpson presented those changes during the most recent meeting.
Commissioner Gary Mauler wants the proposal to go back to the planning commission, because of those changes. He said he wanted their input on Simpson’s changes.
The document is all wishy, washy, said Mauler.
Commissioner Anna Legates said she is in favor of the addition as presented. She said it’s not easy to do business in Dewey Beach, and she said, she would like to give Simpson the benefit of the doubt.
A number of people from the business community spoke in favor of the proposed expansion, including Bill Lower of Dewey Beach Enterprises and Steve Montgomery, owner of The Starboard.
Montgomery said he had known Simpson for 25 years, and spoke highly of the man’s character.
“Simpson will be a great addition to our little neighborhood,” said Montgomery.
Changes to sign ordinance approved
Council voted 4-1 in favor of a wording change to the town’s sign ordinance during the meeting.
There are two significant changes to the ordinance. The first change keeps the 12-foot height limit on displays, but no longer includes the method used to affix those displays as part of the height. The second change allows for businesses on corner lots to have displays on two sides.
The change to the ordinance was done in an effort to end a long-running lawsuit against the town by Jeremiah’s Beach Party owner Jason Fruchtman.
Mayor Diane Hanson was the lone no vote. She said she was in favor of the changes, but also wanted there to be wording that said displays needed to be taken down at night. None of the other commissioners supported the idea.
Committee chairs needed
Hanson said volunteers are needed to head committees in charge of the town’s comprehensive plan review and what to do with town hall.
The town has a state-mandated comprehensive plan review due in 2017. The planning commission moved forward a suggested timeline to complete the review during a meeting in February.
The suggested timeline has the creation of a review working group, the appointment of a chair, the creation of a plan, the establishment of a budget and a briefing to town commissioners on the group’s goals by the July meeting.
At this point, none of the proposed timeline has been accomplished.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.