Mt. Kisco Diner Wants New Look, Heads to Zoning Board

is aiming for a new format as part of its building expansion.

Russell Davidson of KG&D Architects, who is representing the diner, told planning board members at their June 26 meeting that it would become  “a little bit more restaurant, a little less diner” and added it will still have “some look of a diner.”

The diner will also get a new exterior, Davidson told the board. It will be presented at the board's next meeting, which he hopes to be in August or September.

In the meantime, the diner is heading to the Zoning Board of Appeals in order to get an area variance because the proposal's development coverage exceeds what is allowed under the zoning code. The zoning office confirmed Tuesday that the diner is set for the ZBA's July 24 meeting.

Davidson described the need for a variance as necessary because fitting hte proposal into the maximum developmental coverage would mean a loss of seven parking spaces.

Davidson, along with members of the diner's owning family, appeared before the planning board to discuss proposed updates to the site plan, notably for parking. The proposal involves a series of additions that will be about 1,250 square feet and include 13 new parking spots. Currently, the diner has 49 spaces but high demand is putting stress on its lot, the diner argues. Additionally, the diner is seeking to reduce the number of seats in the exist portion of the structure by 10, from 134 to 124, and redistributing them in the new portion.

As part of its expansion, the diner will be building onto an adjacent lot to the south that it acquired. That space is the former home of Paul's Power.

The diner deals with spill over for parking, with its most popular times of operation being on Saturday and Sunday mornings, coinciding with religious service.

Planning Board Chairman Joseph Cosentino appeared to be resigned to the general problem of overflow parking in the village.

“I think that’s going to be the way of life right now," he said.

In general, talks between the boad and the diner's representatives were amicable on the issue of parking.

Additionally, the diner is in talks with Westchester County to move a Bee-Line bus stop so that more on-street parking can be available.