HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4809

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 25, 2020.

The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4197) of Sheila C. Harrington  (by vote of the town) that the town of Groton be authorized to grant two additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises and three additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises in said town, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4809) ought to pass [Local Approval Received].

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 6/5/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4809

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act authorizing the town of Groton to grant additional alcoholic beverages licenses.

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, the licensing authority of the town of Groton may grant 2 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises under section 15 of said chapter 138 to establishments located within the following two development zones, as those areas are defined by the town’s zoning map, existing as of October, 2015, upon approval of and under conditions set by the licensing authority of the town of Groton. A license granted under this act shall be clearly marked on its face “West Groton Village,” or “Four Corners,” and shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said section 17.

(b) The licensing authority shall restrict the 2 licenses authorized in this act to the two zoned areas defined as follows:

(1) 1 license shall be issued to establishments located within the Route 225 Corridor, to comprise the area to include parcels along Route 225 and Townsend Road, as those areas are designated as West Groton Village on the map; provided, however, that for the purposes of this paragraph, map shall mean the parcel specific corridor areas designated as West Groton Village, dated October, 2015, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Groton town clerk;

(2) 1 license shall be issued to establishments located within Four Corners, to comprise the area to include parcels along Route 225 and Route 119, as those areas are designated as Four Corners on the map; provided, however, that for the purposes of this paragraph, map shall mean the parcel specific corridor areas designated as Four Corners, dated October, 2015, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Groton town clerk.

(c) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a license granted under this act to a location outside of the initial zoned areas as defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b), but it may grant a license to a new applicant within the initial zoned areas as defined in said paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue and a letter from the department of unemployment assistance indicating that the license is in good standing with those departments and that all applicable taxes, fees and contributions have been paid. 

(d) If a licensee terminates or fails to renew a license granted under this act or any such license granted under this act is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, the license shall be retuned physically, with all of the 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 in this act.

(e) All licenses granted under this act shall be issued within 3 years after the effective date of this act; provided, however, that a license originally granted within that time period maybe granted to a new applicant under subsections (c) or (d) thereafter.  

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