Rehoboth gives Greene Turtle green light

The city commissioners voted 5-1 to approve a permit of compliance, paving the way for the Greene Turtle to make a new home in the old Sunview Motel at Wilmington Avenue and the Boardwalk. Mayor Sam Cooper opposed the permit.

Both public comment and commissioner opinion reflected a tug-of-war between those who think the restaurant can provide an economic boost to Wilmington Avenue and those who think the restaurant does not meet city code. Questions also abound as to use of an outdoor deck that hangs over city property, the Boardwalk, where the Greene Turtle has indicated it will serve alcohol on the deck.

The Greene Turtle is proposing a 7,746-square-foot restaurant to go on the second floor of a renovated Sunview Hotel. The restaurant will have 186 seats with a bar and an outdoor deck, which will also have tables. The commissioners heard the request last month but tabled the permit request to sort out concerns over the patio and the actual square footage of the restaurant.

Greene Turtle co-owner William Frankis said the restaurant, with Thrasher’s and the Playland Arcade on the first floor, which Frankis and his partners also own, would be part of what he hopes will be a family-oriented entertainment facility on the Boardwalk. In an effort to implement green technology, Frankis said the restaurant would have operable window walls that will allow the open air to come in, provide access to the patio and conserve energy for air conditioning. There will also be an elevator and two staircases leading from the first floor to the restaurant.

Frankis said, “My partners and I view the Boardwalk as the crown jewel of Rehoboth Beach and the Sunview building is one of the most prominent buildings on the Boardwalk. Unfortunately, it has not been significantly renovated since it was built over 40 years ago. As part of our bringing the Greene Turtle to Rehoboth beach, we also bring an opportunity to give this old, tired building a significant facelift, starting from the ground up.”

Nailing down the exact square footage of the restaurant has been another matter.

While the Greene Turtle received a variance from the board of adjustment allowing a restaurant of more than 5,000 square feet serving alcohol, the square footage provided by the Greene Turtle and the figures provided by the city building inspector do not mesh. Frankis said the Greene Turtle’s architects submitted what was asked of them.

In addition, at the Jan. 20 commissioners’ meeting, Cooper said the ratio between the bar area and the permanent restaurant seating exceeds 25 percent allowed by city code. Frankis said the city did not request that information. Cooper said he hoped the applicant would have those calculations worked out before a permit hearing.

Bitsy Cochran, of 27 Baltimore Ave. said, “I want to take issue with the open windows. I thought there was an ordinance where doors have to be closed. Now we can open all the windows? It’s bad. We have to stop it sometime.”

City Solicitor Glenn Mandalas said there is an ordinance stating that alcohol must be served in an enclosed area, however, other restaurants, such as Dos Locos and Irish Eyes, have open-air dining. Cooper said most of the restaurants with open-air dining were grandfathered in.

Hoyte Decker of 214 Laurel St. said, “I think this is a great organization. I believe this is going to be an asset to our community.”

Linda Kauffman of 206 Laurel St. said, “I think the commissioners need to look at the economy and anybody that is willing to invest, at this point, in town, is something that needs to be applauded.”

Commissioner Stan Mills made the motion to approve the permit with conditions that include compliance with the dining room-bar ratio and defining the square footage of the patio.

“This is an exciting concept,” Mills said.

Commissioner Kathy McGuiness said, “I’m delighted that this organization is going to renovate and revitalize an existing, worn structure. We have existing buildings with a lot of these characteristics.”

Commissioner Paul Kuhns said, “Wilmington Avenue in the last few years has kind of scared me with how people have left. Some people have come in; they’re doing OK but they’re not doing very well. The southern part of the Boardwalk – Rehoboth Avenue, Wilmington and Delaware – I think this will be a very positive thing for it.”

Cooper said, “I do not believe the application, as submitted, meets the definition of a restaurant in that it is not totally enclosed. I also think the balcony increases the use over public property.”