by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Sanibel Planning Commission heard an application from Ava Builder on behalf of the property owner 1504 Periwinkle LLC to allow a restaurant use at 1504 Periwinkle Way, formerly T-Shirt Hut. The restaurant, Spatini Tea Bar, will offer tea, coffee, and cookies with counter service only, occasional piano entertainment, and seating for eight customers. Spatini Tea Bar was formerly located as a full spa in Jerry’s Shopping Plaza.
The Commission imposed 11 conditions, all of which the owner agreed to. They included, among others:
• A fast-food restaurant (Spatini Tea Bar) with no more than eight indoor lounge seats is permitted to operate in an 800-square-foot area alongside a retail food store 320- square- foot area.
• No on-site food preparation is authorized. On-site preparation is for drinks only at an estimate of 50 drinks per day.
• Kitchen is not permitted to include a hood, fryer or any other commercial kitchen equipment used to prepare food.
• Conveniently located on-site bike parking facilities for no less than five bicycles shall be provided and maintained.
There will be three parking spaces at the restaurant as well as nine shared parking spaces at VIP Realty.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the application with the conditions.