Selectmen Discuss Liquor License for the Inn at Hastings Park

After a lengthy discussion a hearing to grant a liquor license to the Inn at Hastings Park was continued to the next Board of Selectmen meeting to allow time to work out the language on conditions members of the board wish to apply to the license. 

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. 

The Inn at Hastings Park is the brainchild of Lexington resident Trisha Perez Kennealy who is in the process of converting a home at the corner of Mass Ave and Worthen Road into a high-end inn and restaurant. 

The inn will have 22 rooms. The restaurant "Artistry on the Green" will have 54 seats. 

There were a few points of contention regarding the granting of the liquor license.

The main point of debate during the meeting was where people could be served alcohol, who can drink where and at what times of the day. 

The plan put forward by Kennealy and her attorney Patricia Farnsworth is that restaurant patrons who are not staying at the inn will only be able to purchase alcohol in the restaurant. Guests of the inns however will be able to purchase alcohol through room service and in a living room area in one of the three buildings. They also said guests would be allowed to take drinks and food outside to a porch and a patio. 

Selectman Peter Kelley contended that allowing inn guests to purchase alcohol in the living room area and to take it outside was beyond the scope of the project when it was presented to Town Meeting in May of 2012. 

Kelley suggested the hearing be continued to give him and other board members time to review the Town Meeting. He said he thought the license was limited to the restaurant and would not include the hotel portion of the business. That proposal to continue was voted down by other board members and the discussion continued. 

Kennealy said that offering drinks, especially wine, was part of her business plan and would be expected by guests staying in a high-end inn and paying between $275 and $600 a night. 

Many members of the community also weighed in on the liquor license hearing. Some of those opposed said they worried that people drinking outside will be a disturbance because the inn is located in a residential neighborhood. Others were concerned that restaurant patrons would be loud when leaving the establishment and disturb local residents. 

Kennealy said that restaurant customers will be reminded with a sign to be quiet and respectful when leaving. She also said that she and the other members of the staff would ensure guests do not make a disturbance. 

After a long debate the selectmen seemed ready to make a vote but had some conditions they wanted to put on the liquor license. In a straw poll they voted 4-1 that they are leaning towards approving the license but wanted both Kennealy and Farnsworth and town council a chance to look over the language of those conditions before a vote. Kelley refused to participate in the straw poll and was put down as the one dissenting vote. 

The conditions under consideration include limiting alcohol sales to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays while allowing the sale of drinks until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Selectmen also said they would like to have 9 p.m. be the cut-off time for inn guests drinking outside. 

There was a condition ensuring that restaurant guests and people visiting inn guests be not allowed to purchase drinks in the inn or drink on the grounds or in the inn and be held to the restaurant. 

The continuation of the hearing was approved unanimously.