Saigon Eatery public hearing continued after applicant provides traffic memo and menu

Attorney Joseph Tabby appeared before the Woburn City Council on May 21 on behalf of Viet Thai Restaurant Inc., DBA Saigon Eatery, seeking a special permit to operate a fast‑food restaurant at 299 Mishawam Road and a modification to a prior 2014 special permit. Tabby said the petitioner is a local, family‑owned operator that also runs a Viet Thai restaurant in Lowell and intends roughly 30 seats and hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Tabby told the council the applicant submitted a revised survey showing 144 parking spaces at the center (the original 2014 approval counted 148), noted the building is nonconforming in its rear setback and described a revised site plan and trip‑generation memorandum prepared by the project's traffic consultant. Councilors asked whether updated traffic data would be available in time for a June 4 committee meeting; Tabby said the traffic engineer was expected to coordinate with city staff and he left copies of the traffic memo, menu and floor plan for the record.

Councilor Brown and others asked whether the applicant planned to seek a liquor license (Tabby said no liquor application was included) and noted the parking lot condition may require additional conditions or inspections. After questions the council opened the public hearing, accepted the applicant's materials into the record, and voted to continue the hearing to the June 4 council meeting and to refer the matter to the Committee on Special Permits.

Next steps: the council expects updated traffic comments and department reviews prior to the June 4 continued hearing.