Planning Board clears Toast Coffee & Kitchen for 50 Clinton Place with delivery condition

The Planning Board voted to approve site‑plan and special‑permit applications (PB2026) for Toast Coffee & Kitchen at 50 Clinton Place, a nearly 5,000‑square‑foot breakfast‑brunch concept proposed for a ground‑floor corner space facing Division Street and the plaza. Mark Blair (Curious Projects) presented the tenant build‑out and outdoor patio; owner Terry Scarlatos said the concept focuses on breakfast, lunch and brunch and initially intends to operate roughly 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week.

Board members and residents raised concerns about downtown parking and delivery logistics. Resident Charlene Claxton testified that traffic backs up on Church Street when cars queue for nearby parking garages and warned that delivery vehicles and ride‑hail stops can block the corridor. The applicant said RXR (the landowner) provided an internal inline pollution‑control unit for kitchen exhaust and that deliveries and trash would be coordinated through an off‑page loading dock; the board adopted a condition requiring the applicant to utilize the building loading dock for food deliveries. The board approved both the site plan and special permit by voice votes.