A proposed office development which was blocked from planning approval due to zoning restrictions is being used by Bermuda Realty to sell the former site of Once Upon A Table.

Owner Llewellyn Harvey shut down Once Upon A Table in August, with the loss of seven jobs, after a two year downturn in business. Before the closure, in February, Mr. Harvey submitted a plan to the Planning Department for a four storey office development on the site at 49 Serpentine Rd. in Hamilton. The development would have been added on to the current building.

However planning department officials told him in two letters the site was zoned for industrial use and "remains the only district within the City that allows a full range of industrial use.'' Mr. Harvey's plan was therefore in contravention of planning regulations.

"The (Development Applications) Board does not have the discretion to approve the proposal,'' they added.

Peter Adwick, assistant director of the forward planning section, stated the proposal did not comply with the 1984 City of Hamilton plan.

In a memorandum dated April 17 he noted that a review of the city's plan was currently underway.

"The proposal is consequently considered premature pending completion of the City Plan review,'' he wrote.

Subsequently, Mr. Harvey's agent Barker & Linberg decided to withdraw the application in May rather than submit it to the Development Applications Board for consideration.

This week Bermuda Realty, a subsidiary of Bermuda Home, advertised the property with a artistic drawing of the proposed building.

Drew Horsfield, manager for the company's real estate sales section, said the drawing was meant to show the future potential of the site. Zoning changes could be made upon application he said.

"Although it is not approved, it does show the future potential of the site,'' he said. "It is up to the (Development Applications) Board's discretion.'' Some potential buyers had shown interest in the site as it stood but not for use as a restaurant, he said. If they purchased the site, they would eventually have to get permission from the Board for change-of-use.

The site is being marketed for more than $1 million.

Llewellyn Harvey RESTAURANT EAT BUSINESS BUC