A vacant ice cream stand on Route 17 in Whitefield may soon receive new life due to a proposal presented to the Whitefield Planning Board April 15.
Stephen Smith, former planning board member and owner of the property on Route 17, was joined by potential tenant Steven Dumas, of Steven Dumas Catering, to present plans to transform a recently built addition to the stand into a restaurant and home for Dumas’ catering business.
In addition to the catering business and restaurant to be housed in the addition, Dumas has plans to resurrect the ice cream stand near Lilac Lane, which has been out of operation for a number of years.
Smith and Dumas presented their plans for the property to the planning board with the intention of learning the steps needed to obtain approval for a development change-of-use application.
Smith and Dumas expressed interest in expediting the approval process so Dumas could open for business by the end of May.
In September 2012, Smith originally proposed building a 28-by-60-foot addition to the ice cream stand. The use for the addition was undetermined at the time. The addition was completed in 2014 with the planning board granting approval for its use for equipment, office space, and storage.
The change-of-use application Smith intends to submit will ask the board to allow the structure to be used for food service. According to Smith, the building has capacity for 112 seats.
The septic system on the property is just shy of 600 gallons and would need to be expanded, Smith said. However, state requirements would allow for the restaurant to open with the current septic system while the work to expand it is completed.
Planning board members requested a revised internal layout plan for the structure, a traffic layout and parking plan for the site, Department of Transportation approval for an entrance to the site, and a wastewater disposal plan to consider approving Smith’s change-of-use application.
In addition to planning board approval, Smith would have to obtain a plumbing permit from the code enforcement officer and a variety of permits from the state to open the structure as a restaurant.
Smith asked if the planning board would be willing to hold a special meeting to consider the application once the requested material was compiled.
“As a landlord, I’m prepared to meet all the standards,” Smith said. “It’s imperative that (Dumas) can open for the summer season.”
Dumas has worked as a caterer for approximately 15 years. Due to the success of Steven Dumas Catering, Dumas decided to expand by adding a restaurant. The restaurant will be family themed and will focus on providing good portions of home-cooked food at a good price.
“We’re hoping we’ll attract people from a long distance,” Dumas said. The restaurant hopes to work with local farmers and use locally grown food as much as possible. Dumas expects to hire 20 to 25 new employees to staff the restaurant if all permits are obtained and applications are approved.
