100-Seat Banquet Hall, Bar Addition Proposed At Bridgewater Restaurant On Route 202

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Cafe Emilia has some big plans in store for its longtime and well-known Italian restaurant off Route 202 in Bridgewater.

The restaurant, established in 1999 at 705 Route 202, has submitted an application to the Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment for an addition.

Cafe Emilia is looking to expand onto the property next door at the corner of Charlotte Drive which was formerly home to Branch Point Church.

The application is proposing to demolish the church and add a 100-seat banquet hall, a 30-seat bar, and a courtyard area, creating a two-story 16,773 square foot building.

As a result, the applicant requires a D(1) variance because the proposed development will expand the restaurant onto the existing church parcel, which is not a permitted use in the R-20 zone (a single-family residential zone).

Additionally, the applicant requires a D(4) variance for the floor area ratio variance because a ratio of 0.16 is permitted, whereas 0.43 is proposed.

The applicant is also seeking several other variances for:

• Minimum frontyard setback from Route 202 - 200 feet required / 28.90 feet proposed
• Minimum parking setback from Route 202 - 10 feet required / 8 feet proposed
• Maximum improved coverage - 25 percent permitted / 89.9 percent proposed
• Minimum parking stall size - 9.5 x 18 feet required / 9 x 18 proposed
• Minimum loading spaces - 2 required / 1 proposed
• Minimum loading space size - 12 x 50 feet required / 11 x 24 feet proposed

The application is scheduled to be heard at the Zoning Board meeting on July 22 at 7 p.m. Click here to view the full application.

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