A pizza chain’s controversial plan to open a franchise location in the Fields Corner business district was dealt a setback last week when the area’s civic association took a position against the store’s opening in a letter sent to the city’s Licensing Board.

The proposal by Joe and Ralonda Johnson to open a Papa John’s in a vacant storefront at 1501 Dorchester Ave. has drawn opposition from some, including rival merchants and the Main Streets organization, who say there are already too many pizza shops in the district. The plan has supporters, too, and they argue that the shop has a right to open and compete and will be locally managed.

The issue was the subject of a lengthy Fields Corner Civic Association meeting in September, but the civic group did not weigh in publicly until Sept. 30, when its leadership sent the letter in opposing the store’s bid for a permit to open.

The letter cites the civic group’s wish “to protect the current similar locally run businesses,” and “to continue diversity of small locally run businesses on Dorchester Ave/Fields Corner area.” It also outlines “concerns with seating/sit down options with opening hours until 3:00 a.m.”

At last month’s meeting, Ryan Gazda, an attorney for the Johnsons, explained that the Papa John’s store would seek an operating (common victualler) license with no alcohol provisions, and hours on Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

It is now up to the Licensing Board to decide the question.

The pizza controversy was not taken up in detail at the Oct.1 meeting. It focused instead on other matters, including a petition by the owner of the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in the Fields Corner mall to extend its closing time for pick-up and delivery orders.

The owner of the franchise location, Cherag Selhi, said that restaurant now closes at 11 p.m. but a walk-up delivery window stays open until midnight. The operators say they will continue to close at 11, but ask that the pick-up station remain open until 3 a.m. He added: “There is no traditional ordering allowed at the window. We don’t have a register set up there.” Instead, he said, only after showing confirmation codes via phone can third-party services pick up orders at the window. 

Earlier in the meeting, BPD Officer Mike Keaney confirmed that late-night incidents in Fields Corner are “few and far between.” Keaney said he did not think that the extended McDonald’s hours would increase any safety risk to the community.

“Most of our employees are local residents,” said Selhi. “It provides the opportunity for them to have a second job with longer hours into the late night.” He also mentioned that late-night employees will also be paid higher hourly rates. 

Only one person opposed the proposal. The civic group will send a letter of support to the licensing board. 

Also on the agenda at the meeting was a discussion over Zoom with three representatives from the MBTA about the Fields Corner T station and nearby infrastructure. “We’re here to answer any questions you may have about this station,” said MBTA community liaison Opehnir Bazile. “For any questions we are unable to address at this moment, we’ll make a note of it, and we will send a response after inquiring internally.”

The greatest concern among the civic members on the call was the condition of the T’s bridges. FCCA treasurer Hiep Chu explained that the bridges on Geneva Ave, Adams Street, and Dorchester Ave. could benefit from renovations like that done to the bridge over Clayton Street in 2013. 

Deputy Chief of Stations for the MBTA Michael Foglio said that their team would further examine these locations but he reminded Chu that each bridge he named has undergone inspections.

“We are in compliance with our FTA (Federal Transit Administration) regulations for bridge inspections. Anything that comes up in the inspections gets listed through with a corrective action plan and followed through with repair,” said Foglio. 

Other residents expressed a desire for more beautification projects and the completion of structural improvements. One community member suggested the best way to tackle these refurbishments would be with a walk-through in and around the station. Ashley Armand, the T’s Deputy Director of Community Engagement, said she would collaborate with community members to schedule such an event.

In the meantime, Foglio said, the MBTA is working on developing a new branch line manager program. He said this would get “some eyes and ears out in the stations. They are going to be riding the trains every day, visiting the stations, and compiling all the items that we’re looking to improve upon.”

Another project quickly approved during the meeting was the development of a single-family home at 42/44 Granger Street.  The owner of the home, Cindy Lam, now lives next door and will be moving into the new three-bedroom, four-bath house upon completion. “I’ve been here for 13 years in the neighborhood./ I have no intention of moving out,” said Lam. 

While the proposed project is three stories instead of the suggested two-and-a-half, the attorney Ethan Rittershaus noted that the height of the building will still be under requirements. 

The next FCCA meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 since the first Tuesday of the month is Election Day.