Council approves Monahan’s by the Cove for limited acoustic outdoor music, removes parking-attendant requirement

The Charlestown Town Council voted 4–0 to approve a one-season general entertainment license for Monahan’s by the Cove, permitting non-amplified acoustic music outdoors two nights per week between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., subject to receipt of required paperwork.

Councilor Marr moved to approve the license with hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for one weekday and one weekend night per week and struck the application’s parking-attendant requirement; Councilor Sarah seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Frederick Holmes, representing Monahan’s, told the council the business sought a modest program of acoustic music under a tent and that the restaurant had not hosted live music last season. Holmes said the plan was deliberately low-key: "It's not the Rolling Stones. We're not looking to have a concert," he told the council.

Neighbors who signed in opposed the permit raised traffic and pedestrian-safety concerns in the Foster Cove neighborhood. Marie Rice, a nearby resident, said tractor-trailer deliveries, on-street parking, and patrons walking from parked cars had created safety risks and asked the council to ensure safety measures and a trial period for the license.

Applicants and some residents described changes the restaurant made since the previous hearing: opening a back parking area, restriping and realigning parking, and adding some off-street capacity. Monahan’s representatives asked the council to try the license without a required attendant and to revisit conditions if problems recurred.

Councilors said the license would be treated as a test: the council approved the limited schedule and non-amplified restriction but retained the ability to revisit conditions if neighborhood impacts emerged. The approval is contingent on the business providing all required paperwork to the town clerk.