NORTHBOROUGH – An ice cream and beverage restaurant is hoping to come to the former Texas BBQ Company site on Main Street.
The project is slated to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 27. The Planning Board provided a technical review of the project during its meeting on June 6.
The site is the former home of Texas BBQ Company, which closed in 2020. According to project engineer James Tetreault, the applicant — SALIII 305-309 Main Street LLC — plans to use the same building for an ice cream and beverage restaurant.
“This is going to be a beautiful site in the future where, again now, it’s one of the things you see when you’re first driving into Northborough from Marlborough, and it’s somewhat of an eyesore,” said Tetreault. “Now, it will be in the future a beautiful site.”
The plans call for a drive-through and walk-up windows. There would be no indoor seating, but on the western part of the site there would be a paved stone walk leading to picnic tables.
An application for a special permit to allow the drive-through was filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The plans call for 34 parking spaces. The existing entrance onto Route 20 would be narrowed, and a second entrance off East Main Street would be added. Tetreault said after talking with Planning Director Laurie Connors and Engineer Fred Litchfield, the applicant was advised not to have a straight shot through the site from the two roads, allowing people to use it as a cut through.
There would also be a crosswalk on East Main Street to cater to residents near Little Pond Road.
“I love that you’re going to do this,” said Planning Board member Bill Pierce. “I think this is needed not only in town, but for this particular site as well.”
Drive-through traffic
However, Planning Board members voiced concerns about traffic from both East Main Street and Route 20 entering the drive-through.
“I’m concerned that the cars are going to end up backing up onto East Main Street,” said Pierce.
Member Amy Poretsky added that customers who park on the eastern side of the lot would have to walk through traffic to get to the restaurant.
Tetreault said the plans show a queue of nine cars in the drive-through, but that could increase to 11 cars before it disrupts the East Main Street entrance. Additionally, the plans call for more parking than the minimum requirements, he said.
Member Millie Milton asked if the applicant considered having one way into and out of the site. Tetreault said it hadn’t been investigated, “but we will give it some thought.”
If the Zoning Board of Appeals approves the project, Poretsky said one potential condition could call for the applicant to hire a police detail if there is an issue with traffic.