Bill > H4418

This bill authorizes the town of Westborough to grant a total of 22 additional licenses for establishments to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, overriding a general state law (section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws) that limits the number of such licenses. These new licenses can only be issued to businesses located within specific zoning districts, including Highway Business (BA), Downtown Business (BB), Gateway 2 (G2), Mixed Use District (MUD), Downtown Planning Overlay District (DPOD), Industrial A (IA), Industrial B (IB), Mixed Use Industrial (IC), and Industrial D Overlay (ID), as defined by the town's zoning map from October 21, 2014. The town's licensing authority has the discretion to approve these licenses under their own conditions. Importantly, any license granted under this bill cannot be transferred to a location outside of these designated zoning districts, and new applicants must provide proof from the department of revenue and department of unemployment assistance that they are in good standing and have paid all applicable taxes and fees. If a license is no longer in use, it returns to the licensing authority to be reissued under the same conditions. The bill outlines different effective dates for the allocation of these licenses, with sections taking effect upon passage, on January 1, 2018, or on January 1, 2019, depending on the issuance of previously allocated licenses.