Broney's Alumni Grill has filed a zoning appeal to use parking several blocks from the restaurant instead of replacing its outdoor patio with parking spaces required by city code. John Wharton, who owns the restaurant property at 7 W. Carpenter St., has filed an appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals requesting permission for the establishment to offer either leased parking within 250 ft. of the premises or to offer its customers more distant parking already owned by Wharton, parking more than 250 ft. away, said his attorney, Chris Gerig.Wharton was found guilty in Athens County Municipal Court of a misdemeanor code violation this summer because of the restaurant's patio, or beer garden, which obstructs five parking spaces the property needs to comply with zoning laws.He was fined $400 and Broney's is not allowed to sell alcohol in the beer garden until it consents to the court order.
The appeal seeks a variance to the code and an allowance to offer customer parking more than 250 ft. away at 9 S. Lancaster St. The appeal argues the building's location within the Athens Downtown Historic District means Broney's does not have to comply with the code and that such a variance would increase area property values.
It also contends that the property will not receive any special privileges because of the variance. According to the appeal, if the variance is not granted, Wharton will be prevented from a reasonable use of his property for an outdoor caf+
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Stephanie Hummel
