The controversial Cinco de Mayo tortilla factory has finally found a home in Chelsea, scoring approval Tuesday night from the Zoning Board to locate within a building at the northern end of Crescent Avenue.
The proposal was first unveiled this spring for a location on the Chelsea Waterfront, but it was vigorously opposed by neighbors. The Zoning Board ended up agreeing with neighbors and rejected the zoning relief for that site.
Recently, Cinco de Mayo gave it another shot with the light industrial building near the corner of Eastern Avenue.
There was some healthy opposition from residents of the Spencer Lofts, which pretty much abuts the property.
Having a factory operating for most of the day and evening hours was not something those residents felt was appropriate for the new, but quickly growing, residential neighborhood.
Zoning Board members heard those concerns, but relented to the proposal – though imposing some conditions.
Those conditions included a limit on the hours of operation, no delivery trucks longer than 40 feet and deliveries are not to conflict with school pick-up and drop-off.
The Mary Burke School Complex is only about two blocks away.
In other matters:
• The Crescent Commons development on Sixth Street along Rt. 1 was deemed a major modification by the Board and, thusly, was continued until the Oct. 11th meeting.
The developer is reducing the number of units and adding more studio apartments and fewer three-bedroom apartments. The change is driven mostly by a weaker than expected economy.
• A church was approved to locate at 278 Broadway. Several churches already exist in the retail building.
• A proposal to locate a limo storage at 24 Adams St. was rescinded after the company did not show up for their hearing. Officially speaking, the Board rescinded a prior approval for a minor modification to the project.