20-03-2025
Kingston zoning board approves special exemption for drive-through restaurant, yoga studio
Mar. 20—KINGSTON — The borough zoning board approved a special exemption for a drive-through fast food restaurant and yoga studio at the intersection of Wyoming Avenue and Pierce Street on Wednesday evening.
Much of the meeting was taken up by public comment that may continue at the next planning commission meeting, which is set for at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 8.
The zoning board was only voting on the special exemption for the drive-through, but many public comments related to a possible influx of traffic impacting nearby streets in Kingston, as well as other businesses in the area needing to develop new parking plans due to potential overflow from the drive through and/or yoga studio.
Holly Leandri-May, whose dentist office is the adjacent property to the intersection site, broadly approved of development happening in the area, but questioned the execution plan, especially concerning a lack of street parking in the immediate area.
The plan for the intersection was described in detail by the developer team, led by Bill Letwinski of the Exeter-based company designBLD. The developer team clarified that the fast food restaurant would not be a dine-in restaurant, that the desired restaurant at that location would serve relatively healthy food, and that the yoga studio would be the primary focus of the two-building complex's owners.
Board member Thomas Leary commended the citizens in attendance for voicing their opinions regarding the safety concerns related to the project.
Board member Richard Ryman disputed the idea that traffic would disproportionately impact Pierce Street and the surrounding side streets, as the development plan accounts for traffic in the area flowing out to Wyoming Avenue as well. The Pierce Street traffic plan is still under review.
Leary, Ryman, Patrick Endler and Jack Nicholson voted in favor of the special exemption moving forward, while Philip Boyle abstained from the vote.
