The Marlborough City Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee voted to approve a license update and send it to the city solicitor on May 14 to allow Flying Dreams Brewing Company to use four parking spaces on Rollins Avenue adjacent to its existing sidewalk seating.

The request, presented by David Richardson, owner and brewmaster of Flying Dreams Brewing Company, would permit the brewery to move some existing tables into the parking spaces from May through November 2025 and add chairs to those tables. Richardson told the committee the brewery initially got approval for sidewalk seating before the COVID-19 shutdowns and expanded into parking spaces during the pandemic; the business now wants to continue using the parking spots because they provide more room for customers.

Committee members pressed for details on safety and operations. Councilor Trucillo confirmed the taproom’s posted hours (Wednesday 5–9 p.m., Thursday–Friday 4–9 p.m., Saturday 2–9 p.m., Sunday 2–8 p.m.) and heard Richardson say the taproom sometimes stays open later when customers linger but is licensed until 1 a.m. Councilor Roby and others asked for the revised license to be explicit about how many parking spaces would be used, the seating layout, and a requirement to maintain a clear pedestrian path on the sidewalk. The committee and Richardson clarified that the business would not increase the number of sidewalk tables; roughly half the tables would be moved into the four parking spaces and reoriented to allow additional chairs in the larger space.

Safety concerns centered on protection from vehicles. Councilor Orem read a written response from Chief Georgie of the Marlborough Police Department, who said he was “more concerned if they are moving tables, chairs into the roadway and parking spaces without adding better lighting and barricades to prevent a vehicle from driving through the setup,” and recommended “significant stable barriers” and a new seating plan with specifics. Commissioner Scott of the Department of Public Works confirmed the city houses and places the Jersey barriers used downtown and said DPW took responsibility for those barriers after working with building and site review staff during the pandemic installations. Richardson said additional lighting would be installed, supported by the building and nearby trees with the lowest string roughly nine feet above ground.

The committee’s motion—“approve the license and send it to the legal department with language adding the parking spaces and the barricades” (moved by Councilor Fortunato and seconded)—carried 3–0. Committee members asked the solicitor to prepare an updated license to encroach reflecting the parking spaces, barrier arrangements, hours restrictions, and indemnification language similar to the brewery’s prior 2019 license to encroach. Richardson said Flying Dreams will continue daily cleaning and wipe tables before opening to limit litter and rodent attraction.

Next steps: the committee voted to forward the request for drafting by the city solicitor; the revised license text and any additional conditions will be handled by the legal department.