The Wrightsville Beach Planning Board voted unanimously to pass on a favorable recommendation to allow Josh Vach to partially remove a wall inside the Saffo Building on the corner of North Lumina Avenue and Stone Street. Vach leases the building from George Saffo to operate two restaurants, Tower 7 and Café del Mar. If approved by the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen after a public hearing on April 22, Vach said he would close for approximately 2 days to complete the renovation.

The main reason, Vach said, for requesting the removal of the interior wall is to provide a more hospitable environment for diners and ease congestion within the restaurant, caused by people waiting for tables to open.

"We’re removing barstools from the Lumina side of the bar . . . and we’re scooting them around to the Café del Mar side," Vach said. "It’ll also result in a net loss of two of those tables that are already on the Café del Mar wall. It’s a repositioning of the seating to facilitate better traffic flow and also to assimilate the two places."

After discussing engineering studies, plumbing, grease traps and parking, Tony Wilson, planning and parks department said adjacent property owners were notified of the planning board meeting and will also be notified of the planned public hearing.

The planning board briefly discussed its moratorium on telecommunication towers within town limits. Wilson said the ordinance will be drafted for approval at the next meeting. The board also reviewed the town’s non-conforming ordinance reworded by vice chairman, Susan Robinson. Chairman Lori Rosbrugh asked members to wordsmith items A through C and be prepared to discuss them when the group meets again on May 4.