Expansion to McShea's approved

By a vote of 4-1, Dewey Beach Town Council approved a conditional-use application that allows for a 750-square-foot expansion to McShea’s Beach Pub and Grill.

The July 10 meeting was the third time a public hearing was scheduled, and at times it appeared it might have to come back for a fourth. Plans call for expanding the restaurant, 1705 Coastal Highway, into the former Electric Banana storefront immediately to the north.

At the close of a nearly two-hour-long public hearing in June, Tom Simpson, owner, was given marching orders that included changing the proposed layout to be more family-friendly, considering closing the expansion at 11 p.m., and turning in blueprints early so commissioners could examine them.

Simpson returned for the July meeting having removed a proposed expanded bar and replaced it with a point-of-sale location for the addition. Simpson removed individual tables along the north wall and replaced them with one long bench and smaller tables, that, he said, could accommodate larger groups who would come to eat.

He began by saying he didn’t feel comfortable with closing at 11 p.m., which was a sticking point with Commissioner Courtney Riordan.

In the end, Simpson acquiesced, but only after it was agreed that he would be allowed to come back in a year for a review with the understanding that it could lead to the 1 a.m. closing time the existing business has.

Simpson presented a set of blueprints to town attorney Fred Townsend in advance of the meeting, but the commissioners didn’t see them until the meeting.

A poor print job on the handout left Commissioner Gary Mauler saying he felt bad, but, as he read the blueprints he couldn’t vote on the matter.

Mauler said he didn’t like the idea of families walking into the bar side of the restaurant to get to the new seating area.

He was the lone no vote.

Steve Montgomery, Starboard owner, spoke on behalf of Simpson. He said he was about to open up a restaurant in “family-friendly” Bethany Beach and it’s all bench seating along the walls.

“It’s how restaurants are done in 2015,” he said.

Elena Baer, a neighbor of McShea’s to the west in Bayside Court, said the arrangement of tables had very little to with her decision when taking her family of five out to dinner.

As a mother, she said, there has to be a kid-friendly menu. Simpson provided her with a copy of the proposed menu, and after she was done looking it over, Baer gave her approval.

Baer said she attended the meeting to make sure the proposed expansion didn’t include going out into the vacant lot between Bayside Court and the rear of the restaurant. Simpson said it doesn’t.

Speaking before the vote, property owner John Curran said for the town to grow, commissioners need to let businesses grow. He said the choice is leaving the storefront empty, leaving the property as is, or working with the business and creating something that is more in line with the town’s vision.

Referendum letter

Dewey Beach voters will have the final say on height limits to rebuilding storm-damaged houses with a referendum vote during the town's 2015 municipal election Saturday, Sept. 19.

In advance of the vote, the town will be sending a letter to property owners and residents of the town.

The referendum question arose after Dewey adopted new Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which took effect in March.

In advance of the new rate maps, towns across the country had to pass a flood damage reduction ordinance, with language approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in order for property owners to have continued access to flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Dewey Beach Town Council approved this ordinance Dec. 13.

Among the measures approved in the ordinance is a FEMA requirement saying a building that is substantially damaged or undergoes a significant renovation has to be rebuilt at base elevations found on the new flood maps. Currently, height in Dewey is based on the grade of the street abutting a property.

The change means some properties in flood zones could lose living space because they are already built close to 35 feet.

The proposed ordinance calls for a building height of 32 feet from the base flood elevation on new construction in the flood zones, but allows for buildings built before the new flood maps to be rebuilt to the same height as long as long as the structure is the same.

In areas of town not in flood zones, height requirements will continue to be based on measurements from street grade.

The change is scheduled to take effect immediately if approved by a simple majority of voters.

Town council presented a rough draft of a letter to members of the public in attendance at the July 10 meeting, but, after being told the letter wasn’t clear, town council tasked themselves with making revisions for their next meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m., Friday, Aug 14.

Beverly Corelle, board of elections chair, said the letter must be ready no later than Saturday, Aug. 15, so a notice of elections can be published by Thursday, Aug. 20.