Historic preservation board approves wine bar with live entertainment at 804 Lake Avenue

The Lake Worth Beach Historic Preservation Board voted to approve a conditional-use permit and alcohol-distance waiver for a proposed art gallery and wine bar at 804 Lake Avenue.

Staff presenter Anne Hamilton told the board the application meets the comprehensive plan, land-development regulations and the criteria for an alcohol-distance waiver; the property is a contributing resource in the Old Town Historic District but the packet shows the request meets the tests for approval with the conditions listed in the staff report.

The applicant, Kelly Absher, said she and her husband Guillermo operate the business and only plan on serving wine for on-site consumption. "We don't sell bottles of wine for people to purchase there and take home," Absher said, adding that the couple took over the business last July and had not realized a permit for live entertainment was required until staff informed them.

Board members asked whether fundraising events that included raffles or donated bottles could run afoul of the condition limiting nonpackage sales; Absher said the business has not conducted such raffles and does not currently sell bottles for take-home consumption.

A member moved to approve the project with the staff-recommended conditions; another member seconded, and the board approved the motion by voice vote. The motion adopted the staff conditions addressing building alterations and electric-utility comments and left enforcement to the normal permit and inspection process.

Next steps: the applicant must meet the conditions in the staff report and obtain permits before expanding evening music or alcohol service. The board record does not show a roll-call tally; the approval was recorded by voice vote.