Former Dewey Grotto Pizza site approved for retail, condos

A three-story, 15,000-square-foot mixed-use structure is set to take the place of the former Grotto Pizza on Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach following a unanimous vote Dec. 16.

Grotto Pizza attorney Stephen Spence said the new building at the corner of Read Avenue will have four townhouse units and four retail spaces, which will be on the first floor. The four separate retail units do not require public parking spaces because they fall under the square-foot threshold, Spence said.

Jeff Gosner, Grotto Pizza vice president, said all residential and commercial units will remain owned by Grotto Pizza for the time being; entry to the townhomes will be accessed at the rear of the building, he said.

Residential units will each have four parking spaces, Gosnear said, including one enclosed garage space, although only three are needed per code. 

Commissioner Gary Persinger said code had recently been revised to reduce the number of parking spaces; two spaces are now required per four-bedroom unit. Persinger also noted that town code requires that the entire first floor must be commercial, so the enclosed garage spaces would go against code.

To remedy the situation, Assistant Town Manager Jim Dedes said the easiest thing to do would be to not enclose the parking spaces. Spence said his client would be willing to revise the plan, and commissioners voted unanimously to approve the site plan with the omission of garage doors.

In September, commissioners voted unanimously to approve a conditional-use permit and an application for restaurant permit of compliance to construct and operate a new Grotto Pizza across Read Avenue from the former restaurant.

Grotto Pizza officials are targeting a May opening for the new restaurant.