The St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board on Oct. 11, 2018, conditionally approved an after-the-fact extension of premises for Nicoletti's Pizza and Sub Shop in Hollywood, allowing an interior expansion of 1,590 square feet and an exterior cooler/freezer expansion of 275 square feet pending final Land Use and Growth Management sign-off.

Board members voted to approve the extension on the condition that the applicant provide the outstanding Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) final documentation (the UNI) within 30 days; if LUGM completes approval sooner, the applicant should notify the board administrator to remove the condition.

Applicant Bruce Nichols told the board he had replaced an older walk-in refrigerator with a new unit and previously added interior space. "I added on a, an outside walk in refrigerator. I didn't really add it. I just replaced the old 1 with the new 1," Nichols said, adding he had obtained a building permit and a U&O but had not realized the board needed separate notice: "I wasn't aware that I needed to inform you all... I did get a building permit. I did get a u and o... I just forgot. I didn't forget it. I didn't know."

Board Administrator Tammy Hillbrand explained the procedural step the board needed before final approval: "As soon as you get it, they they can approve it conditionally and then when you give it to me, check the box and you're done." The board also noted that fire marshal and health department inspections had already been completed and that the outstanding item was final LUGM sign-off.

The board described the request as an "after the fact" application because the interior expansion and new walk-in cooler had already been installed at the time of the request. The board recorded the motion to approve the premise change with the 30-day conditional sign-off; members voted by voice. The transcript records members saying "Aye" when the motion passed.

Why it matters: liquor-license holders are required to notify the Alcohol Beverage Board about changes to licensed premises; going forward the board discussed whether to coordinate with Land Use and Growth Management so LUGM's permitting checklist flags projects that include bars or alcohol service earlier in the permitting cycle.

The board's action was limited to the license application before it; it did not change county permitting rules. The applicant was directed to provide final LUGM documentation to the board administrator once it was available.