HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3883        FILED ON: 5/26/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3614

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jonathan Hecht and John J. Lawn, Jr.

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act authorizing the town of Watertown to grant 15 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3883        FILED ON: 5/26/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3614

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act authorizing the town of Watertown to grant 15 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the licensing authority of the Town of Watertown may grant 15 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under section 12 of said chapter 138, subject to the conditions set forth in this act.

The following 4 licenses may only be granted as shown on the map entitled “Watertown Proposed Liquor License Specific Locations” dated December, 2014, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Watertown town clerk;

1 for premises located at 321 Arsenal Street, currently the Arsenal Center for the Arts;

1 for the approved project located at 202 Arsenal Street, for a restaurant use;

1 for the approved project located at 570 Arsenal Street, for hotel/restaurant use;

1 for the approved project located at 60 Howard Street, for a restaurant use;

The following 11 licenses for economic development purposes, as follows:

A maximum of 2 licenses for premises located within the Watertown Square or Coolidge Square area, the boundaries of which shall be as shown on a map entitled “Watertown Proposed Liquor License Area Locations,” dated December, 2014, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Watertown town clerk;

A minimum of least 1 license for premises located within the West End Riverfront area of Pleasant Street, as defined by the Strategic Framework for Economic Development adopted by the Watertown Town Council in August of 2011, and also shown on a map entitled “Watertown Proposed Liquor License Area Locations,” dated December, 2014, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Watertown town clerk;

The other licenses for premises located within the areas of the Arsenal Mall and the Watertown Mall, the boundaries of which shall be as shown on said map entitled “Watertown Proposed Liquor License Area Locations,” and the five economic development target areas defined by said Strategic Framework for Economic Development, and also shown on said map. 

(b)  Once a license is granted pursuant to this act, the licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of such license to any other location, but it may grant the license to a new applicant at the same location if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue indicating that the license is in good standing with the department and that all applicable taxes have been paid.  No license granted hereunder may be sold or otherwise transferred for financial consideration; and the granting of a license to a new applicant, as provided for herein, shall be the sole method by which a license holder may be changed. 

(c)  Notwithstanding said section 12 of said chapter 138, the licenses authorized by this act shall be subject to a supplemental annual fee, to be set by the town council, in addition to the annual fee for existing alcoholic beverage licenses in the Town of Watertown, but not to exceed two times the amount payable for such an existing license for the applicable license year.  The additional revenue from these fees shall be deposited into an economic development account in the Town of Watertown and be expended consistent with the purposes of that account.

(d)  If a license granted under this act is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority and the licensing authority may then grant the license to a new applicant under the same conditions as specified under this act.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.