We stuck is out for the first 4-and-a-half hours at last night’s CB3 liquor licensing committee hearing. When we left around 11 p.m., there were still 22 agenda items to be heard. Here’s what happened during the short time we were there.
After a long conversation, Community Board’s 3 State Liquor Authority panel voted in favor of Paulaner Brauhaus, the 13,000 square foot restaurant at 265-267 Bowery. The applicants withdrew last month to conduct more community outreach. Residents living directly above the new venue said they have not had sufficient time to review soundproofing plans and other architectural diagrams. But after an extended back-and-forth the committee grudgingly voted “yes.”
There was also a lengthy debate concerning the new bar from Sivan Harlap and Andrew States at 221 East Broadway. The committee heard from many residents both in favor and opposed to the project. Residents from the Seward Park Co-op were out in force as well as more than 30 members of the Primitive Christian Church, which is located a short distance from the proposed business.
Karen He, an aide to State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, presented a letter her office has sent to the State Liquor Authority asking the agency to determine whether the license would violate the “200 foot rule,” a section of the law prohibiting bars near churches and schools. The SLA has told the community board no ruling would be forthcoming until after CB3 sends its recommendation and the application is before the Authority.
Committee Chair Alex Militano said she had misgivings about the plan because the bar is located in an area zoned residential and it has not previously been a bar (a bodega with a liquor license was formerly in the space). The panel deadlocked, which means the full board will have to decide whether to support the application at its June 26th meeting.
Finally, the operators of a new bar at 21 Essex Street ran into some spirited opposition from neighbors. They decided to withdraw their application, rather than face rejection from CB3. We’ll have more on this item later today.
One other note from last night. There’s a new member of the SLA committee. He’s Wilson Tang, the owner of the Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Tang was appointed to the community board this past spring. He becomes one of three restaurant/bar members on the panel, joining David McWater and Ariel Palitz.
One of the discouraging things at last night’s meeting was the absence of 5 of the 11 members of the SLA Committee. Absent were David Conn, Lisa Kaplan, Bernard Marti, David McWater, Chiun Ng, and new member Wilson Tang. With only a bare quorum of six, a majority in favor or against the bar could not be mustered, forcing this contentious issue onto the full board agenda later this month.
To the people of Seward Park. Let me tell you something. Dominic Pisciotta-Berg just appointed a new member to the CB 3 SLA Committee who is one more restaurant/bar owner. He knows exactly what he is doing. He allows for Ariel Palatz, lounge-owner to remain on the Board even though she has mocked residents of the LES, used offensive language and votes to approve every licsense not matter what residents say. Dominic is a Seward Park Co-op Owner. I have attended many CB 3 meetings over the years and one is allowed to bring hard-copy evidence, such as photos, letters etc. When you hand them to him at the meetings, he takes them and puts them on the chair next to him, rather than distribute them to voting members.