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Stonington approves Harborview special-amusement license and seasonal lease for deck seating
Summary
After a public hearing with no public opposition, Stonington selectmen approved a special-amusement application for the Harborview and authorized a seasonal lease for outdoor deck space to help the restaurant manage COVID-era seating. The board discussed potential June–September increments and instructed staff to finalize lease terms.
Stonington selectmen approved a special-amusement application for the Harborview and authorized a lease for seasonal use of the front deck area to help the restaurant manage outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town Manager Billings said the Harbor View special-amusement application was complete, had been published in the local paper and produced no public comments. Gail Stinson, introduced in the meeting as the new owner of the Harborview Restaurant, told the board she wanted authority to lease the space in front of the deck so she could expand outdoor seating if COVID numbers rose.
"I was hoping to keep it on the deck but if the numbers rise, I wanted to ask permission from the town and put the lease in place if needed at a later date," Stinson said. The board discussed how long the town wished to permit use of the area and whether to set seasonal increments; one selectman suggested a June–September window.
After discussion, Selectman John Steed moved and John Robbins seconded a motion to approve the lease space for the Harborview; the motion passed 4-0. TM Billings said the board could determine exact increments and would formalize terms with the town’s standard lease documentation.
The Harbor View special-amusement ordinance was also discussed previously in April, when TM noted a model 2020 ordinance would replace the town’s 1998 version and remove an earlier 15-year sunset clause; TM reported the ordinance had been advertised with no public comments.
Next steps: TM will work with the owner to finalize lease paperwork reflecting the seasonal terms discussed and the town will proceed with the administrative steps required to issue the special-amusement authorization.
