Safety & Licenses committee approves late-night hours for Taco Bell, outdoor dining approvals; neighbors protest liquor license request on Nickerson Street

The Cranston Safety Services & Licenses Committee met June 2 and approved a series of license actions while hearing multiple public comments opposing a liquor license application for a business on Nickerson Street.

Drive-through hours—Taco Bell Taco Bell (D D O New England LLC) at 1102 Cranston Street requested an extension of drive-through hours from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. Steve Peroni, representing the restaurant, said the location is busy late at night and the operator planned to monitor the speaker volume and neighborhood impacts. Council members and local police said they had no incident reports at the site and asked the applicant to keep the ordering speaker volume lower after midnight. The committee voted to approve the extension; the applicant was instructed to work with the clerk’s office to finalize licensing paperwork.

Outdoor dining and entertainment Tabitha Frankie Canteen (170 Randall Street) sought permanent approval to expand outdoor seating and related clearances. The city solicitor explained that R.I. Gen. Laws 45-24.7-4 (the state “outdoor dining” statute enacted after COVID‑era waivers) preempts some local requirements; the solicitor advised that zoning and traffic-engineer clearances previously requested likely do not prohibit action under state law. The committee voted to approve the permanent outdoor expansion.

Cafe Knightsville (Balazio, 1669 Cranston Street) sought an indoor/outdoor entertainment license. The police department recommended limiting outdoor entertainment to 11 p.m. While the establishment may continue indoor entertainment until midnight, the committee approved outdoor entertainment limited to 11 p.m.

New liquor-license opposition: Nickerson Street residents Several abutting residents from Nickerson Street spoke during public comment to oppose a pending liquor license application by a business identified in the transcript as New York Honeywell (applicant name in record varied). Albert Picci (16 Nickerson Street), Gabriel Wegela (20 Nickerson Street), Amanda Olivier (16 Nickerson) and others said their properties abut the business lot and described concerns about parking-cutthroughs, late-night noise, trash and public nuisance if alcohol were sold there. Residents said they and their children had experienced trash and illicit behavior when a restaurant previously operated late at night at the location; they urged caution and recommended denial or further review.

Other approvals and procedural items The committee approved multiple license renewals and new business licenses, often in grouped votes after the fire marshal provided inspection updates. The committee continued several items where outstanding fire inspections, traffic clearances, or state tax-clearance documents remained outstanding, and it set conditions for some approvals (for example, approvals subject to receipt of a Division of Taxation letter of good standing).

What the committee asked of applicants The committee repeatedly asked applicants to reduce outdoor speaker volume after midnight, to provide documentation (fire inspections, traffic or tax clearances) when required, and to coordinate with the clerk’s office on issuance of licenses. Several continuances were granted to let applicants supply missing documents.

No final decision was recorded in committee on the Nickerson Street liquor application; residents were advised to continue to contact council members and the clerk’s office for updates.