This month, the Planning Board is reviewing a few large projects. Also included are hints of new businesses coming. The full agenda is published here, but we have condensed it for you in this list below:

Regular Meeting

45 Beekman Street: 1st Public Hearing for Site Plan Approval for this proposed property. Spire Studios was there, and Ron English’s Pop Art is there now. Otherwise the property is vacant. Proposed is buildings of 3 and 4 stories with numerous 1 and 2 bedroom units, plus commercial space on the ground floor that is referred to as an “arcade.”

Dunkin’ Donuts with apartments above at 420-430 Fishkill Avenue: Public Hearing for this property. Community feedback has been both for and against the Dunkin’ Donuts and the proposed drive-thru. As of now, Beacon’s City Council wants to zone out all drive-thrus to make the area walkable only. While this legislation has not taken effect yet, the Planning Board is instructed to proceed with current zoning, which allows drive-thrus.

The Telephone Building, 291 Main Street: Continue review of application for Site Plan Approval, Mixed-Use Commercial and Residential. Two buildings are proposed to be built here. A very modern looking building with storefront space at the first floor and apartments above, and a house-like building behind the Telephone Building.

Prophecy Theater, 1113 Wolcott Avenue: Review of applications for Amended Special Use Permit and Amended Site Plan, hotel and restaurant. Beacon’s City Council limited their hours of operation and scaled back their vision on their original business plan.

Halvey Funeral Home, 2 Beekman Street. Review of application for Amended Site Plan Approval, Addition to existing funeral home.

Rose Hill Manor, 1064 Wolcott Avenue, proposed to be turned into a hotel/restaurant/spa for guests. Review of applications of Site Plan Approval and Special Use Permit.

Architectural Review

New signage for The Floral Society at 161 Main Street; Sign (old location of Lorraine Tyne)

New signage for Estilo Y Vino Wine Bar at 173 Main Street (old Reserva Wine Bar)

New signage and facade for Brothers Trattoria at 465 Main Street.

GET ALL DETAILS

As winter is coming, and extended outdoor dining in parklets (aka designated areas in parking spots on the streets) has ended as of November 1, 2020 in Beacon, restaurants are facing an incredible challenge to stay open. Some restaurants are able to keep their sidewalk dining open, and some have courtyards in the back. Some have been able to succeed through delivery options. Trax Coffee Roasters, based in Beacon, just opened a second location on Rte. 52, at the boarder of Fishkill and Beacon. For a list of which ones, see A Little Beacon Blog’s Restaurant Guide.

The radio station WPDH, ‘The Home of Rock and Roll’, has shared a list of at least 35 restaurants that are closing in the Hudson Valley. Some that have been in business for over 30 years! Reasoning for some closures are unknown, and others are due to COVID-19. Visit WPDH for more reporting they did on each restaurant regarding thier reasons for closing, most of which are pandemic-related.

WPDH also shared that, “Dunkin' is set to close at least eight New York locations. Dunkin' confirmed plans to close 450 locations, mostly on the East Coast, by the end of 2020. All of the Dunkin' closures are stores located inside Speedway gas stations. In the Hudson Valley, there are Dunkin' stores inside Speedway locations in Highland, New Windsor, Saugerties, and two in Kingston according to Google Maps. In New York, there are also locations in Hudson, Norwich and Margaretville. Click Here to read more.”

Below is a quick list of the restaurants closing. Be sure to read the article at WPDH for their reporting.

Beacon

Dunkin’ Donuts, on Rte. 52.
Other Dunkin’ Donuts inside of Speedway gas stations will also close, as walk-in foot-traffic has diminished.

Fishkill

Il Barilotto (on Main Street)

Wappingers Falls

Stewart’s Shops on Route 9D
Cousins Ale House, which includes the entire brewery, not just moving to a new location.
Michael's
Rita’s Italian Ice

Poughkeepsie

Sweet Obsessions
Nic L Inn Cellar Bistro & Market
Bonefish Grill
Table Talk Diner
Ruby Tuesday at the Poughkeepsie Mall (the Fishkill location had already closed months prior to pandemic)
Amici's