News, Waterford

Rochester’s Coral Reef site gets new life – for one night

By Dave Fidlin

CORRESPONDENT

A well-known Rochester landmark once known for fine dining along the Fox River is being repurposed as an outdoor wedding site – at least on a one-time basis.

Waterford resident Greg Meinerz is owner of the former Coral Reef Restaurant property, 705 S. Front St. He came before the village Plan Commission on May 2 with a proposal to rent out the site in late August for an outdoor wedding.

The proposal received commissioners’ backing on a unanimous vote and now advances to the Village Board this coming Monday, May 9, for further deliberation and review.

The Coral Reef site has been dormant since the venerable restaurant shut its doors early in 2009. The building was considered in poor condition and has since been removed from the property. All that remains of the former restaurant is a parking area.

Meinerz, who operates under the business name Feer Laroc LLC (“Coral Reef” spelled backward), said he agreed to rent the site out Aug. 19-21 to Burlington resident James Ellertson, who has family looking to use the site.

Ellertson said the wedding ceremony, held Saturday, Aug. 20, will be a mock event because the actual vow exchange will occur elsewhere. The mock event is geared toward family and friends who were unable to attend the actual ceremony.

The number of attendees is expected to range from 150 to 160 people, Ellertson said.

While the former Coral Reef Restaurant was noted for hosting special events – including weddings – the lack of an actual building on the parcel led to several questions, including noise, lighting and the logistics about portable restrooms.

Ellertson said he would guarantee all people were off the premises by 11 p.m. on the day of the event. The ironclad promise is designed to appease nearby residents.

“Hopefully it’s not going to bother anybody,” Ellertson said. “We’re definitely not looking to have it go until midnight or 1 a.m. That’s when the goofy things tend to happen.”

On its face, Zoning Administrator Jon Schattner said Meinerz’s request for the site falls in line with village code. With a technical zoning designation of B-1 (business), Scattner said temporary uses are permissible.

“We thought it would be best to bring it before you, though,” Schattner said in discussing the rationale behind the review. “It’s more of a safety issue, and it’s also a concern for the neighbors of the property.”

For now, Meinerz said the wedding plans are a one-time deal for Coral Reef, but he said he would be open to doing more outdoor events in the future. Under village code, he would be required to file a site plan review each time an event was held.

“I think we could get a couple (weddings) in during the spring and late fall,” Meinerz said. “But I don’t see it being a weekly thing.”

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