Town Council approves Narragansett Casino liquor license after hours-long hearing

The Narragansett Town Council voted 5–0 on June 2 to approve a Class B victualing/limited alcohol license for Narragansett Casino LLC, the operator of the Pier Marketplace venue commonly known as the Narragansett Casino.

The decision followed an extended public hearing that included legal briefs and testimony from the applicant’s counsel, multiple abutting property owners and other affected businesses. Attorney John Mancini, representing Narragansett Casino, argued the written remonstrance map submitted by objectors miscalculates the square footage in the statutory 200-foot radius and therefore does not show the required majority objection that would block the council’s authority. "When the map is corrected to include full lot areas, the percentage falls well below the 51% threshold," Mancini said during his presentation (transcript excerpt).

Opposing counsel Patrick Doherty and attorney Steven Sertit, representing neighboring property owners and SAH Hospitality LLC respectively, said the council lacks jurisdiction under Rhode Island General Laws §3-7-19 because owners within the 200-foot radius who object constitute the majority. Property owner Scott Hallberg, the managing member of Beachcomber Properties LLC, testified under oath that the Pier Marketplace parking is already at or near capacity and that his tenants — including restaurants Tsunami and Agave Social — would be harmed by adding a new licensed establishment. "Parking is a premium down there... my tenants are losing business because customers can't find parking," Hallberg said on the record.

Solicitor Craven advised the council that, after review of the statute and prior administrative rulings, the town has authority to act on the application; he said the counsel could proceed cautiously but that the statute does not automatically remove the council’s jurisdiction. The council reopened the record to accept supplemental filings and evidence submitted by the applicant, including a survey affidavit and arbitration and Superior Court decisions the applicant said confirm the validity of its lease.

After public comment from residents, attorneys and multiple business owners, Council members discussed whether to defer the application back to the planning board for additional review of parking and site impacts. Councilors who spoke in favor stressed they heard testimony that the applicant planned limited alcohol offerings tied to the existing function and family-oriented uses of the building and that the venue would not operate as an unrestricted bar. Councilor Durkin said he was "in favor of people having liquor licenses" but suggested conditions limiting service hours and preventing a full-service bar. Ultimately the council approved the license without a referral back to the planning board and with no roll-call objections.

The applicant may face an administrative appeal to the Department of Business Regulation; objectors said they have already prepared filings and would likely appeal the council’s decision.

The council’s approval will allow Narragansett Casino LLC to operate with a Class B victualing/limited alcohol license at Assessors Plat C Lot 181-1 (Pier Marketplace).