New Shoreham council grants relief and issues liquor license to Weatherby’s operator

The New Shoreham Town Council on Wednesday voted to grant an out-of-cycle relief request for On Island Entertainment, doing business as Weatherby’s, and then approved a Class B/V liquor license for the business after a public hearing.

The applicant asked the council to waive a timing restriction in the town’s liquor-license rules so the operator could open outside the usual two-week application window. The council approved that relief by voice vote, then convened a public hearing on the license application and took public comment before taking the final licensing vote.

In the hearing, applicant Chris Willie described the planned operation as a year-round restaurant focused on pizza, grinders and other quick, affordable fare. “This is gonna be a restaurant that serves alcohol, not a bar that serves chips,” Willie said. He said the venue would operate seven days a week for lunch and dinner and that the group plans to close by 11 p.m. and avoid outdoor music.

Several nearby residents spoke during the public hearing. Jeffrey Bloom, who said he lives directly across from the property, told the council he had seen beer bottles and cans on neighboring properties in the past and urged careful attention to trash and noise. Resident John Cullen said past bars at that location produced traffic, late-night groups and difficulty sleeping with windows open; he said police response had been helpful when called. Both speakers expressed conditional support for a restaurant model if the operator enforces outdoor behavior and coordinates with neighbors and police.

Council members asked whether the town could limit alcohol-service hours on the license. Town staff said state law allows service until 1 a.m. on a B/V license but that the municipality can adopt time limits if it has a rational basis and is prepared to defend the restriction; the applicant said his plan was to close by 11 p.m.

After the hearing the council voted to approve the Class B/V license. The council recorded the decision by voice vote; members who opposed or abstained were not recorded on a roll call. The license was granted with no additional conditions recorded in the public minutes.

The council’s action followed its review of the relief criteria in the New Shoreham liquor-license rules and regulations; staff told the council relief is granted when applicants show noncompliance was inadvertent or excusable and when relief will benefit the community at large.

The operator and councilors emphasized ongoing communication: the applicant said he plans to work with neighbors on contact information and to use the same property-management and trash-protocols employed at his other seasonal operation. Residents said they want a reliable mechanism for reporting problems and follow-up at license-renewal time if issues continue.

No written conditions were shown in the meeting record; enforcement would follow existing town processes if complaints arise.