Board consolidates restaurant seating at 300 Petronia, preserves Viv Wine Bistro entertainment license

The Planning Board approved an amendment to combine two downstairs restaurant conditional‑use approvals at 300 Petronia Street into a single authorization covering the combined consumption area and 57 seats.

Attorney Richard McChesney said the request is a housekeeping measure to avoid ongoing confusion from code enforcement about seat counts when the two spaces are operated by the same tenant and to place the property’s consumption area and BTR information under a single approval. He emphasized the application does not increase seating or consumption area and requested preservation of the wine bistro's existing entertainment license. Staff explained prior entitlements showed 14 and 43 seats respectively and recommended consolidation with conditions that preserve historic operational limits; staff also asked for an updated life‑safety plan recording the combined occupancy load. A board motion to approve the amendment while preserving existing entertainment rights passed unanimously on roll call.