VOORHEESVILLE — It was the first time in 20 years that village planning commission member Kathryn Scharl heard an ovation for a project. 

“I never heard applause for an application,” Scharl said on Tuesday following the commission’s approval of Anthony Berghela’s special-use permit request to open a restaurant at 112 Maple Ave., once the home of Smith’s Tavern.

With the approval in hand, Berghela can now close on his contract with Stewart’s Shops to the purchase the the turn-of-the-last-century building — once a gathering place for villagers.

With construction expected to take between four and six months, Berghela earlier told the commission he’s aiming for a fall or early-winter opening. 

Berghela is the owner of Romo’s Pizza in Glenmont, which he opened in 2009 as a 680 square-foot take-out space and has since turned into a 4,300-square-foot full-service dine-in service restaurant. 

He told the commission in March he may have to downsize his Voorheesville menu from what he offers at his Glenmont location because the Bethlehem kitchen is just “much bigger,” but he said, “obviously” he would “have pizza be the focal point,” while also having a selection of dinners, sandwiches, appetizers, and salads on the menu.