NARROWSBURG — Bar Veloce has been forced to close after town officials determined a key engineering report submitted for its rooftop deck application was allegedly fraudulent.

The Italian wine bar, which has multiple locations in New York City, opened inside the former Narrowsburg Motors building at 174 Bridge Street.

In 2021, the Tusten Planning Board told the owners they would need to apply separately for the roof-top deck. That application was submitted earlier this year.

As part of the process, Bar Veloce provided what appeared to be a structural safety certification from professional engineer James Anderson. But Anderson later claimed the document was fake, saying he had never inspected the property, prepared the report, or authorized the use of his name and seal.

“The letter/report reportedly authored by me is in fact, fraudulent and NOT authored by me,” Anderson wrote in an August 26 letter to the Town of Tusten Planning Board and involved parties. 

He added that his license number and seal had been misused without his knowledge.

The following day, the town board met in emergency executive session to discuss pending litigation, and code enforcement revoked Bar Veloce’s certificate of occupancy. The order shuttered the bar until fire and building code issues are addressed.

Bar Veloce owner Frederick Twomey said the business was also misled. 

“A few weeks ago, Bar Veloce became aware that a structural report… contained a fraudulent engineering stamp. This was the result of a sophisticated online scheme that misled my architect’s firm,” Twomey said in a statement. He added that the bar withdrew the application immediately and notified the planning board.

As of presstime, the matter is now under investigation by the New York State Police and the State Education Department, which regulates engineers and architects.

“Our goal is simple: to be treated fairly and reopen as soon as possible,” Twomey told the Democrat.

Town of Tusten Supervisor Ben Johnson stated the town is declining to comment on anything “that’s being done, pending litigation”.

A special meeting of the Planning Board was scheduled to take place last night.