The following update is a re-print of a letter to the Weston Select Board from the Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern.
Dear Select Board Members,
As the Josiah Smith Tavern project moves into the final stages of design review and permitting, Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern would like to provide the following update on the status of the approval process, ongoing coordination with Brian Piccini (BU West) and the project team, and proposed sublease updates intended to support continued progress toward opening of The Woods restaurant.
Project Status and Approvals
The Friends remain encouraged by the substantial progress made over the past several months as the project team has worked through an extensive and complex approval process.
The Friends wants to state clearly our full confidence in Brian Piccini and BU West, and our conviction that they have the capability, experience, and commitment to successfully complete construction and open The Woods as a high-quality, well-operated restaurant for the Town. Over the past several months, the Friends have participated in weekly project team meetings and have seen firsthand the diligence, responsiveness, and problem-solving approach they continue to bring to advancing the project.
On April 4, BU West submitted a permit set of construction drawings including comprehensive plans for all major disciplines including architecture, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural and kitchen design. Since then, many important issues have been resolved through ongoing collaboration with Town boards, staff, consultants, and stakeholders.
Final approvals remaining, in approximate sequence order, include Historic New England, Planning Board, Historical Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Permanent Building Committee, Health Department and Building Inspector.
Most recently, BU West held a very successful meeting with Historic New England (HNE), during which all remaining design and preservation issues were resolved, including the rear façade and several other architectural and preservation-related elements. The remaining step for this stage of coordination is for the design team to memorialize those agreements within the construction drawings and for HNE to issue its formal approval.
BU West has also now responded to the Planning Board’s remaining comments and questions regarding signage, restaurant occupancy, and building services coordination. Regarding signage, BU West agreed to abandon the previously proposed monument sign design and instead follow the Planning Board’s recommendation to install a small blade sign adjacent to the entrance to the parking lot. The proposed sign design will mirror the existing hanging Josiah Smith Tavern sign.
The approval process for a project of this complexity within a historic structure has involved substantial coordination and iterative review across multiple boards. BU West and its consultants have attended multiple meetings with each of the review boards and continues to work efficiently to resolve outstanding issues despite limitations on non-public review and discussion for certain boards.
One significant remaining issue involves allowance of on-street parking to satisfy required parking demand. While BU West continues to engage constructively on this matter, it is fundamentally a Town-controlled policy issue that is outside the applicant’s unilateral ability to resolve. Importantly, existing permits for recently-completed improvements at the Tavern already allow utilization of on-street parking to satisfy required parking loads for the building. The Friends therefore believe a coordinated and practical path forward can be achieved for the proposed restaurant use as well. Resolution will require continued Town leadership and coordination to determine an appropriate path forward.
At this stage, we hope the focus of all stakeholders can remain on collaboration and problem-solving during this final phase of approvals so that construction can begin as soon as practicable.
Project Timeline
The Friends also believe it is important to reiterate the timeline previously communicated by BU West. At the time the permit document set was submitted on April 4, BU West identified May 22 as the target date for completion of approvals to remain on track for a restaurant opening later this year.
With that milestone now approaching, continued coordination, timely review, and constructive engagement among all parties will be important to maintaining project momentum and avoiding additional delays.
The restoration and activation of the Josiah Smith Tavern will continue to require sustained cooperation among many parties, and we remain committed to working constructively with the Select Board, Town boards and staff, and the project team to help bring this long-awaited community project to completion. The goal of establishing a restaurant in the Tavern has received strong community support throughout the public process and remains central to achieving a vibrant and financially sustainable future for the property and our town center. Advancing the project efficiently toward opening will fulfill that community vision, and help transition the Tavern from an ongoing operating obligation for the Town to an active and self-supporting community asset.
Sincerely,
Friends of Josiah Smith Tavern