Wellesley’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) this week voted unanimously to deny a permit request from Café Mangal to bring back outdoor seating on a strip of town parkland behind the 555 Washington St. restaurant. (See Wellesley Media recording of July 8 meeting.)
Following town counsel’s review of the matter, legal and fairness concerns were cited by NRC members in explaining their decision. (The legal document itself is privileged communication between the NRC and counsel, so we can’t link to it.)
The town allowed Café Mangal to have a temporary setup on the parkland in 2020 and 2021 as part of a broader effort to help a local businesses during the pandemic. But a permit request by Café Mangal was denied in 2022, and now a request has been denied again as the Mediterranean-American restaurant celebrates its 25th year in business in 2025.
It’s not that the Commission isn’t sympathetic to Café Mangal’s request or is unaware of the restaurant’s role in the community. In fact, NRC Director Brandon Schmitt said the restaurant’s earlier availability of seating on the parkland worked out fine.
NRC Chair Michael D’Ortenzio summarized parts of the legal opinion from town counsel. This includes a deed restriction on the property that it be used as parkland. Town counsel said it was an open question as to whether seating such that Café Mangal sought could be used exclusively for their business. D’Ortenzio also referenced the Commonwealth’s Article 97 open space rules, and town counsel’s opinion that there could be legal risk related to exclusive use.
For his part, D’Ortenzio said he’d be open to considering non-exclusive use of seating behind Café Mangal. But other commissioners weren’t with him on that.
Commissioner Jay McHale said he doesn’t see the NRC as being “a space solution for restaurants” just because its land might abut them. Approving one request could open the Commission to others.
Member Bea Bezmalinovic said it’s important for town bodies not to be perceived as showing favoritism to one partner over another.
NRC members indicated support for possible special events that use parkland (say including a beer garden), and encouraged local merchants to come forward with ideas.
Expand your reach & support local journalism by becoming a Swellesley advertising partner.
Is this space used for anything else? I have only lived in town for six years, but the only time I have ever set foot on this randomly situated piece of town property was for pandemic alfresco dinning.
This is absolutely ridiculous. So what if it sets a precedent. Take each case on its own and evaluate separately. There is no other reason to deny. It is for a few months of the year and it benefits everyone. Maybe the board just doesn’t want to address and evaluate other requests that may approach them. To me that’s just them being lazy or afraid of dealing with others applying.
too many rules in these towns.