Save the Cookie Jar!


Enough is Enough!

SIGN THE PETITION

UPDATE: October 30, 2024

Hello Friends,

Thank you for standing with The Cookie Jar. We have now collected more than 4,000 signatures – truly an incredible show of solidarity. 

As we shared in our last update, Cape Elizabeth Town Council Chairman Tim Reiniger called a special meeting on Monday, October 28th, to discuss and vote on a license that would secure parking for The Cookie Jar.

At Monday’s meeting, it quickly became clear that Chair Reiniger had enough support to issue an immediate license. However, two councilors, Penelope Jordan and Caitlin Harriman-Jordan, led a strong opposition, stalling progress by focusing on procedural issues. This approach conflated Planning Board responsibilities with those of the Town Council—such as the authority to issue licenses—ultimately resulting in the vote being tabled and leaving The Cookie Jar’s future uncertain.

While we didn’t reach a resolution on Monday, hope is not lost. There will be a follow-up meeting in November, where the Town Council will revisit this issue. We strongly encourage the Council to protect The Cookie Jar’s grandfathered parking spaces by passing the license.

We’ll keep you updated on next steps as we continue to advocate for what’s fair and right for The Cookie Jar and our community.

Sincerely,
David Andrews & David Hughes

UPDATE: October 27, 2024

Dear Friends,

Thank you again for standing with The Cookie Jar. Over 3,700 people have signed this petition. Your support has been incredible!

On Monday, October 28th, the Cape Elizabeth Town Council will meet at 7:30 PM at Town Hall to decide the future of The Cookie Jar’s front parking spaces. Your presence could make a real difference for Donna and Tom Piscopo, who have already endured significant costs over this matter.

The Council has two clear options:

Option 1: Immediate License Agreement (put forward by Chairman Reiniger)

This option grants a straightforward, immediate license for The Cookie Jar to keep its front parking, providing certainty and eliminating unnecessary costs and stress. It’s a fair, common-sense solution that upholds support for a long-standing local business with grandfathered parking rights.

Option 2: Delayed License Agreement, requiring Planning Board approval
This option sends the issue back to the Planning Board, which has stated it has no way to preserve these parking spaces. On October 15, the Town Planner admitted, “I’m out of ideas.” This route means prolonged delays, much higher costs, and leaves The Cookie Jar’s parking spots at serious risk.

You may hear safety concerns raised at the meeting, but it’s important to note that safety isn’t the reason this issue arose. The Planning Board decided to initiate a full-site review simply because of a minor change at the back of the property to create a safer delivery truck exit—a safety improvement that, ironically, put the bakery’s front parking at risk again. The Town Council can fix this on Monday by granting an immediate license to protect The Cookie Jar’s parking, while also addressing safety through practical measures like lowering speed limits in this area.

Please join us tomorrow and advocate for the immediate license agreement over an unnecessary return to the Planning Board.

Meeting Details:
📅 Date: Monday, October 28th
📍 Location: Cape Elizabeth Town Hall
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
🔗 More Info

Let’s show the Town Council that Cape Elizabeth supports its small businesses. Thank you for your continued support—we hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
David Andrews & David Hughes

Donna Piscopo speaks to the Cape Elizabeth Planning Board
October 15, 2024

The Cookie Jar, a cherished bakery in Cape Elizabeth for over 68 years, is once again under threat. For the second time in the past three years, the town is pushing to remove the bakery’s front parking spaces, despite widespread public outcry and the fact that these spots have been grandfathered in. If the parking spaces are removed, the bakery may be forced to close its doors for good.

We say, “Enough is Enough.” It’s time to stand with Donna and Tom Piscopo, the owners of the Cookie Jar, and take action to protect this iconic small business. Together, we can send a clear message to the Town Council and Planning Board: Cape Elizabeth supports its local businesses, and things have to change.

Sign the petition, speak up at Town Council meetings, and support local candidates who are committed to saving the Cookie Jar and protecting small businesses in Cape Elizabeth. We must not let this turn into another Lumbery disaster.

About the Cookie Jar

History:

The Cookie Jar Bakery has been part of Cape Elizabeth since the 1950s, when Lila Gaudet moved her bakery from Boothbay Harbor to our town. In 1970, Grace and Frank Piscopo bought the bakery, keeping its legacy alive and adding their own family touch. For over five decades, the Cookie Jar has been a family affair, with Tom and Donna Piscopo working there since they were teenagers.

Generations of Cape Elizabeth residents have enjoyed the Cookie Jar’s delicious baked goods, making it an iconic part of our town’s history.

The Threat:

In recent years, the Cape Elizabeth Planning Board tried to eliminate the Cookie Jar’s front parking spaces. Although public outcry in 2022 temporarily halted this effort, the issue has resurfaced.

The Piscopos are looking to make an adjustment to their site plan, but the Planning Board’s interpretation of current ordinances has allowed them to reopen a full site review of the bakery’s property—once again putting the critical front parking spaces at risk.

Putting this small, family-owned business at risk mirrors the unfair treatment that the Planning Board previously inflicted on The Lumbery. If this process can threaten the livelihood of a longstanding institution like the Cookie Jar, what does the future hold for other small businesses in our town?

Our message to the Town Council is clear: Enough is enough. This has to end. Small businesses like the Cookie Jar are the heart of Cape Elizabeth, and we must stand up against unfair treatment. We believe a common sense collaborative solution must be found.

Letter of Support from Town Council Candidates David Andrews and David Hughes

Dear Cape Residents,

We stand with the Cookie Jar and its owners, Donna and Tom Piscopo.

On October 15th, Donna Piscopo spoke briefly to the Planning Board. Fighting back tears, she explained her and her husband’s clear concern. “We feel like if we lose the front parking, we’re going to lose the bakery.”

This isn’t the first time Donna and Tom have faced this threat. Cape’s Planning Department has eyed the bakery’s front parking spots for several years, wanting to make way for the extension of a sidewalk project from South Portland down into Cape.

The Piscopos are seeking to make a few changes to their site plan – changes that have nothing to do with the bakery’s front parking. But the Chair of the Planning Board insists that their proposed changes necessitate a full site-plan review. This critical decision, to require a full review, puts the front parking spots at risk.

But some local business people question whether the site-plan review process is being applied inappropriately. “This has the appearance of disparate treatment,” one local business owner explained. “The Cookie Jar’s owners shouldn’t have to go through a full site-plan review. They should be allowed to amend their current plan, leaving the front parking as-is. That option (to amend) has been extended to other owners, and should be extended to Donna and Tom.”

At the same October 15th meeting, Donna was asked by the Chair of Cape’s Planning Board to “trust the process.” But this “process” is extremely expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars. As you can imagine, the stress and financial burden is overwhelming.

In addition to the option to simply amend the bakery’s current site plan without removing the front parking spots, one Planning Board member has presented another option: the issuance of a license to the property, so as to safeguard the parking spots for continued use. That action could be taken by the Town Council.

We respectfully call on the Council to take urgent action to consider options that will provide immediate relief. And we ask our community to stand with the Cookie Jar and Donna and Tom as they navigate this extremely difficult challenge.

David Andrews and David Hughes
Candidates for Cape Elizabeth Town Council

Candidate Profiles

  • David Andrews: David Andrews is committed to supporting local businesses and preserving the unique character of Cape Elizabeth. With a long history of community involvement, he understands the value of small businesses like the Cookie Jar and will fight to protect them from unnecessary interference by the Planning Board.

  • David Hughes: David Hughes brings a strong sense of fairness and accountability to his candidacy for Town Council. He believes in creating a supportive environment for local businesses and ensuring that the Planning Board serves the community, not stifles its growth.