Aerial view of 96th Street. Photo by Leslie Truluck.

STONE HARBOR — Mixed opinions were voiced at council’s meeting April 7 concerning a consideration to expand the liquor license zone, with a particular request in mind.

Lucas Manteca, executive chef/owner of Sea Salt Restaurant, said he would like to partner with the Hand family, who own two of the town’s four liquor licenses, to relocate a liquor license from Kuishimbo Restaurant at 330 96th Street to Quahog’s Seafood Shack at 206 97th Street for a traditional family restaurant, which, he said, would ultimately “promote the town and help revitalize the business district.”

Tom Hand, son of the late former mayor Arden Hand, who established the liquor zone during his tenure, asked the Administration and Finance Committee to look into expanding the liquor zone. If the zone is changed, a place-to-place transfer could happen outside of the established liquor area.

Residents Don and Claire Furmanski of 98th Street spoke in opposition. Don Furmanski said many families rent and live in the residential area year-round. He said eateries have been successful without a license and BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) policies used by many borough restaurants are sufficient. He objected to extending the license district because “noisy lots and after-bar activities are not needed in the area.”

The current liquor zone consists of a 110-foot area including both sides of 96th Street from the western side of Second Avenue and both sides of Third Avenue from southerly 96th and northerly 97th streets. Neither Sea Salt nor Quahog’s currently falls within zone.

Deanna Ebner, a business partner, supported the extension and asked that their restaurant be included.

Ebner said she has no intention of competing with Fred’s Tavern and that the establishment would most likely close at midnight rather than 2 a.m. She said residents and visitors are hard-pressed to find a place to eat late other than at Wawa.

Stanley and Joan Piotrowski, 98th Street residents, also expressed concern for late hour activity in their neighborhood.
Doug Miraglia, a business partner, said the license change could “provide a magnet to the community for a broad dining experience.”

Former Councilman Julian Miraglia said the governing body has the power to restrict liquor service hours when it approves a license transfer.

Council President Karl Giulian said council has three options: either make no change, amend the liquor district to include the specific area down 97th Street with specific regulations or allow liquor licenses in the all-encompassing business district.
Solicitor Michael Donohue said the borough could put reasonable restrictions on the license. Those restrictions, he said, could be subject to challenges by the Alcohol and Beverage Commission and potential lawsuits if conditions seem to diminish the economic value of the license. He said the owner would need to accept conditions.

Mayor Suzanne Walters said the license could be sold in the future and the zone would still exist.

“If the zone is enlarged, there could be other consequences. One in particular would be that the license held at the Harbor Pub could extend all the way back to 97th Street, which is what residents of 98th Street are concerned about,” she said.
Councilman Thomas Cope said the borough passed an ordinance in 2006 to limit liquor sales to a confined area when the borough had an active nightclub scene but, he said, the cause for restriction no longer exists, as there are no longer nightclubs.

“Why limit when we are trying to promote business?” he asked.

“The borough could ask for certain restrictions on the license, but there is no guarantee that an appeal to the Alcohol Beverage Commission would not result in overturning those restrictions and we could end up with nightclubs open until 2 a.m.,” Walters said.

Councilman Barry Mastrangelo was sympathetic to the 98th Street residents. He noted council’s discussion last month about allowing an attorney’s office in the business district, though offices were prohibited in the zone-defining ordinance. He said this issue was no different.

Mastrangelo said it would change the character of the neighborhood and residents didn’t plan on being near alcohol-serving businesses when they bought their properties. He said there should be a natural buffer zone between residential and business.

“Residents have a reasonable expectation that this (expansion) will not happen,” he said.

Councilwoman Joanne Vaul said the borough’s master plan, which will be discussed at the Planning Board’s meeting May 11, treats neighborhood business district differently from downtown business district.

Councilman H. Brian Levinson made a motion to extend the district to include 94th to 99th streets on Third Avenue, south side of 95th Street and the 200 block of 97th Street. There was no second.

Cope made a motion to refer the discussion to the Administration and Finance Committee to look into how the district could be modified without adversely affecting residents, to which the majority of council agreed. Mastrangelo and Giulian voted in opposition.

Mastrangelo said the current zone has served the borough well for 30 years and he doesn’t see how the district could be improved. Giulian agreed with Mastrangelo and said the borough shouldn’t “stir the pot only because of a specific request.”
Vaul said there are not many options to find a solution that would not put residents’ interests aside.

Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.