CT restaurant found in violation of Americans with Disabilities Act

Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant
·2 min read
1

A restaurant in Wallingford is set to undergo major changes to make it more accessible for those with disabilities, according to officials.

Ives Road, LLC, the owner of the building that currently houses Pacific Buffet & Grill Restaurant at 20 Ives Road, has entered into a settlement agreement to resolve allegations that the building’s parking area does not comply with standards set under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

A complaint was filed with the Justice Department by an individual claiming that restaurant did not have adequate accessible parking spaces. Based on an investigation, officials found several ADA violations in Pacific Buffet’s parking area and entrance.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ives Road has agreed to make changes to the building’s entrance and parking area to make them more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Among the changes required by the agreement, Ives Road will add three accessible spaces to its parking lot and remove gaps in the pavement around the accessible parking spaces. It will also lighten the pressure required to open its front door and provide more maneuvering clearance at its front door, so that its entrance is more accessible. Ives Road has a total of three months to complete these changes.

“No one should have to worry about not finding accessible parking in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Avery. “The ADA’s mandate has existed for more than a decade. I want to commend Ives Road for doing the right thing by cooperating with our investigation and agreeing to make Pacific Buffet more accessible for everyone going forward.”

The Justice Department urges any member of the public who wishes to file an ADA complaint to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700 and ask for the Civil Rights Intake Specialist. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY). More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com