Framingham Planning Board Sends Bee Sisters Cafe Drive-Through Back for Revised Plans

FRAMINGHAM — March 9, 2017 — Framingham Planning Board gives informal green light to Bee Sisters Cafe drive-through concept, with conditions. The board stopped short of any formal vote at its March 9 meeting on a proposal by partners Fernanda Mendez and Anna Mendez to activate a pre-existing drive-through lane at their grab-and-go cafe at 680 Worcester Road on Route 9, directing them instead to return with revised plans addressing a parking shortfall — nine spaces against a required 12 — relocated handicapped parking, tenant consent letters, and a traffic management plan. One member drew on the board's experience with the nearby Dunkin' Donuts: "There's going to be a provision in the decision that will require you to do additional steps if it turns out that there are cars queuing out on Route 9 — you may never use it, but it'll be there if need be." The board voted 4-0 to release the performance bond for Fox Creek Lane after a two-year weathering period, conditioned on receipt of a written DPW compliance letter, and 4-0 to send a clarifying letter to the Building Department confirming that a roughly 3,200-square-foot rooftop enclosure at 2-8 New York Avenue is mechanical maintenance space, not occupied floor area.