Harbor View owner wins selectmen approval for seasonal lease space after special-amusement hearing

The Stonington Board of Selectmen approved a seasonal lease for space in front of the Harbor View restaurant after a public hearing on the restaurant’s special-amusement application on April 19, 2021.

Gail Stinson, identified at the meeting as the new owner of Harbor View, told the board she wanted the option to use the deck area for outdoor seating if COVID-19 conditions require shifting service outdoors. Town Manager Billings said the application was complete and had been published in the local paper; no public comments were received during the notice period. “She was hoping to keep it on the deck but if the numbers rise, she wanted to ask permission from the town and put the lease in place if needed at a later date,” Billings said.

The selectmen discussed timing and frequency of any seasonal allowance. Selectman John Robbins specifically asked whether the board could limit a lease to a June–September period; Billings said the board could set whatever increments it preferred. A motion by Selectman John Steed, seconded by Selectman John Robbins, approved the lease space; the board recorded a 4–0 vote.

The action followed routine approvals of minutes and warrants earlier in the meeting. The board did not receive any public opposition during the published hearing and indicated general support for providing flexibility to local businesses coping with pandemic restrictions.

The lease approval is administrative: the town did not adopt new regulations at the meeting, and the selectmen said the terms (including exact dates and rent) would be set in the lease documents. The board also noted other ongoing items on the agenda, including a separate settlement for expanded kayak access and an executive-session direction on a potential property purchase adjacent to the ballfield.

The selectmen closed the item without further public comment.