SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2509
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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SENATE, August 9, 2021.
The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 40) of Ryan C. Fattman and Peter J. Durant (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the town of Southbridge to grant additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2509).
For the committee,
Susan L. Moran
FILED ON: 8/5/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2509
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act authorizing the town of Southbridge to grant 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 Southbridge may grant 7 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises under section 12 of said chapter 138 to establishments located within the following three development zones, as those areas are defined by the town’s zoning map, existing as of June, 2021, upon approval of and under conditions set by the licensing authority of the town of Southbridge. A license granted under this act shall be clearly marked on its face “Globe Village Flex Overlay District,” “Central Core,” or “American Optical Flex Overlay District,” and shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said section 17.
(b) The licensing authority shall restrict the 7 licenses authorized in this act to the three zoned areas defined as follows:
(1) Two licenses shall be issued to establishments located along the Route 131 Corridor, to comprise the area to include parcels along: (A) Route 131 from Old Fiske Hill Road until West Street; (B) Pleasant Street from Route 131 until River Street; and (C) River Street from Mill Street until River Avenue, as those areas are designated as Globe Village Flex Overlay District on the map; provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph, map shall mean the parcel specific corridor areas designated as Globe Village Flex Overlay District, dated June, 2021, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Southbridge town clerk;
(2) Four licenses shall be issued to establishments located along the Route 131 Corridor, to compromise the area to include parcels along: (A) Route 131 from South Street until East Main Street; (B) Pine Street from Route 131 until Hamilton Street; (C) Elm Street from Route 131 until Park Street; and (D) Central Street from Route 131 until Hook Street, as those areas are designated as Central Core on the map; provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph, map shall mean the specific corridor areas designated as Central Core, dated June, 2021, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Southbridge town clerk; and
(3) One license shall be issued to establishments located along the Route 169 Corridor, to compromise the area to include parcels along: (A) Route 169 from Optical Drive to North Woodstock Road; (B) Optical Drive from Route 169 to Case Street; and (C) Cabot Street, as those areas are designated as American Optical Flex Overlay District on the map; provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph, map shall mean the specific corridor areas designated as American Optical Flex Overlay District, dated June, 2021, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Southbridge town clerk.
(c) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a license granted pursuant under this act to a location outside of the initial zoned areas as defined in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (b), but it may grant a license to a new applicant within the initial zoned areas as defined in said paragraph (1), (2), or (3) 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 returned 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 no later than December 31, 2025 after the effective date of this act; provided, however, that a license originally granted within that time period may be granted to a new applicant under subsections (c) or (d) thereafter.
SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.