The Village of Pleasantville is currently experiencing a wave of new business.

Retailers see the village as hot, according to Building Inspector Robert Hughes. Several businesses have opened recently, including the restaurants Fatt Root and Dolphin South on Wheeler Avenue, and Pleasantville Chicken on Bedford Road. And construction is also underway on multiple nearby housing developments.

But what is the process a business must go through to be able to open its doors in Pleasantville?

Hughes walked us through the process.

It can vary depending on the location where the business is trying to open, but a business always goes through the Building Department. A business can only open in an appropriate zone, as rules vary per zone. “General zoning basically tries to limit a restaurant opening right next door to a single-family home. Similar uses are often grouped together so a municipality works in better harmony with all the different uses as best as possible,” he said.  

The next step in the process is going to the Village Planning Commission. This is where business owners will be told if their plans meet the standards of village zoning laws. Business owners can appeal if they disagree with the village’s decisions.

The final step in this process is to obtain a building permit. The length of this process can vary. This can sometimes result in prospective businesses leaving the process unfinished, although abandonment of the process does not happen often.

While the Building Department is not directly involved in a business opening or closing on private property, “we are directly involved to ensure that a situation is zoning and planning compliant if and when the next tenant or owner decides to do something at a property,” Hughes said.

Residents who want to learn more about the process of opening a business in Pleasantville can attend local government meetings, such as the Planning Commission or Village Board.