OK for oHHo’s portable pizza oven at new location

By Jeff Morris//

A new business, oHHo Botanicals, which recently opened at its new location in the old Bedford firehouse, gained approval from the Bedford Planning Board at its July 22 meeting to temporarily continue operating a portable pizza oven on the premises.

The business’s application to the board was for a proposed site plan amendment seeking to “enhance the recently completed retail occupancy in the historic Ivanhoe Firehouse building by incorporating an interior accessory pizza bar area and the ability to accommodate an exterior portable pizza oven on the outdoor patio.”

Because of the septic restrictions in Bedford Village, the business is not permitted to have a kitchen, and no food can be prepared onsite. “It is not possible to open a restaurant without a kitchen nor is it oHHo’s intention to enter into the restaurant business or defer focus from its core business,” according to oHHo owner Nicola Stephenson.

It became clear early in the discussion that the planning board would split the application, putting a priority on permitting the outdoor operation while putting off a decision on the interior aspect until it can be studied further.

“Is it possible to do this in a two-step thing?” asked Board chair Deirdre Courtney-Batson. “I don’t necessarily have a problem with the outdoor part of it on a temporary basis”, but, she said, she thought there were too many unsettled questions to approve the indoor portion.

Joseph Thompson, the architect representing oHHo, confirmed the applicants were fine with delaying a decision on the indoor portion. “We weren’t seeking action on that tonight,” he said.

The immediate issue needing resolution was a temporary approval from the Building Department that would only permit continued operation of the pizza oven through Friday, July 26. Town Planning Director Jesica Youngblood explained that the permit issued by the building department was a temporary extension equivalent to one for an event with a food truck. For the permit to continue, she said, the planning board would need to give its approval.

The portable oven is currently located in the rear of the building, occupying a parking space. Thompson said the business owners would like to move the equipment to the garden dining patio in front of the building, but the building inspector had raised concerns because of the proximity to a tree. He said that problem should be solved because a spark arrester is required, and one is actually already installed on the oven. The oven itself, he said, is highly insulated and cool to the touch.

The unit in question, a Caterer Napoli Quattro mobile brick oven, is owned and operated by Pizza Girls NY. According to papers submitted by Stephenson, the pizza oven is new, wood burning and compliant with all safety requirements. She said the business had previously opened the Old Firehouse for a pop-up weekend winter market in December 2023 and “invited our long-term collaborators, the Pizza Girls of Rochambeau farm, to make pizza under their license.” She said Pizza Girls has operated the oven at multiple Westchester locations including at John Jay Farmers Market; in December, the oven was situated in the front garden “and was well received.” 

Stephenson noted that serving coffee and pizza at the new location encourages customers to stay longer in the store, increases browsing and invites return visits. 

The board engaged in a lengthy discussion of details for the future indoor installation of the portable oven with a commercial exhaust hood. It considered location of the exhaust discharge and supervision of the oven during its three-hour cool down time. Time was also spent on the proposed location of the oven on the front patio and the implications of any tree trimming that might be necessary.

An amendment to the site plan was approved, with conditions regarding the oven’s supervision and safe operation, and granting the building inspector leeway to make adjustments to its location on the patio. The board acknowledged it was attempting to ensure the oven’s continued operation during the height of the summer season, as there are no more planning board meetings scheduled until September. The approval will run through Dec.  31.

Editor’s note: oHHo owner Nicola Stephenson is a member of The Recorder Working Group, comprised of volunteers who have helped launch the nonprofit local news organization.