Spanish Restaurant Gets a 'Si' From Zoners

Easton's Zoning Hearing Board has given its OK to a new restaurant in the city's West Ward.

The board on Monday night voted to approve a parking variance for an as-yet-unnamed eatery at 1054 Northampton St., which owner Cesar Montesdoeca says will serve "Spanish style" cuisine.

Montesdoeca needed the variance because parking is scarce in the neighborhood.

"We don’t have any parking to offer them," he said. "I don’t see how we can fix that. If there was a vacant lot we could buy, we’d do that."

Neighbors say that lack of parking is exactly why the board should have denied Montesdoeca's request.

They say it's bad now, and worse in the fall, when the nearby Cottingham Stadium brings in scores of Easton Area High School football fans.

"We fight the battle of parking on a consistent basis," said 11th Street resident Fred Parris, who estimated there are 18 spaces in the neighborhood. "What we’re looking at here is an overload of off-street parking."

Montesdoeca, of Palmer Township, said the restaurant will seat 50 people and be staffed by him and his family. 

The building is a former appliance rental center. Last year, Montesdoeca applied to turn it into a deli/grocery store.