PETERSBURG — Township Committee renewed the Deauville Inn’s liquor license June 23 with one condition, but not the many that neighbors sought.
Multiple Strathmere residents expressed opposition to the township renewing the license, complaining of noise, parking and open-container violations.
Attorney Dottie McCrosson, representing the Deauville, said the Planning Board reviewed the site plan of the restaurant in 2021 and included a long list of conditions.
Those conditions were attached to the restaurant’s application in 2022 and 2023, but last year, when no one objected, they were not included.
McCrosson, who noted a restaurant has been in operation there for more than 100 years, said it predates everyone in the room, including those who submitted objections.
“From what I’ve gleaned from the comments you’ve received, the main concerns seems be that the conditions of site plan approval were not attached to the renewal last year,” she said. “That’s true, nor need they be.”
McCrosson said her client is aware that it can operate only in accordance with the site plan approval and conditions set forth in the resolution unless he returned to board and got relief from any of the conditions.
“It’s not seeking to do so,” she said. “It understands the rules of the game for its operation and abides by them to the best of its ability.”
McCrosson said the Deauville has posted signs to inform people they cannot carry alcohol out of the premises and has security guards at the entrances to remind people. She admitted that the system is not foolproof.
She argued that the township has code enforcement to handle conditions set by the Planning Board.
“If there is a violation of site plan approval, my client can have summonses issued against it for violating zoning violations or brought back to the Planning Board, but to attach conditions to a renewal is not only superfluous and unnecessary but it complicates their liquor license because now instead of going to the Planning Board and explaining the situation to people who know the property and working with neighbors to resolve the issue, they are working with the ABC in Trenton and it could endanger their liquor license and their ability to operate the facility,” she said.
Solicitor John Amenhauser prefaced questions from the committee and public by saying that he agreed that special conditions of a planning board approval are not required to be put into a liquor license resolution.
He agreed with McCrosson that in the event there were violations, the recourse would be to go to the zoning office, file a complaint and have a citation issued if warranted.
“So not having it in the liquor license renewal resolution doesn’t preclude this township from taking any action should there actually be a violation that exists,” he said.
Mayor Curtis Corson asked if the resolution could be referenced in the approval but not attached.
McCrosson argued if that were a condition of approval of the liquor license, “that would again tie the hands of the applicant, who is surrounded evidently by neighbors who question its method of operation and perhaps even its good faith in trying to comply with these conditions.
“I think what the committee might consider is whether it would be better for allegations of violations of those conditions be handled locally or by Trenton,” she said.
Amenhauser agreed.
“If we reference it in a liquor license renewal resolution and there’s complaints of violations, the ABC may be the body that’s going to hear … those violations whereas if they complain of a violation from the planning board resolution — it continues to exist and will never go away — then this municipality and those we entrust with dealing with those issues here are the ones that would hear those violations,” he said. “I think it’s appropriate to deal with it here.”
He said more than three-quarters of the objections were related to zoning issues, not issues having to do with a license renewal.
Many of those who objected to the renewal identified themselves only by first name.
Dodie, who shared documents with the committee and McCrosson, said the Deauville Inn liquor license has historically included “reasonable and enforceable” conditions designed to protect public safety and community well-being. “Last year, these safeguards were removed without any documented justification or evidence of improved compliance,” she said.
Ted Kingston said he would think that the township would want the restrictions in the liquor license to help with enforcement. “The township doesn’t seem to really want to bite into the enforcement aspect of this,” he said.
Kingston believes help from the state “would benefit everybody,” saying it would take pressure off the township and the neighbors.
Victoria from Strathmere questioned why it was important in 2022 and 2023 to include the conditions but not last year.
“Nothing has changed in the positive direction since they were dropped. Everything has gotten worse with the Deauville,” she said.
Victoria said McCrosson noted the business is 100 years old. The neighbors would love the business of 100 years ago, she said.
“It is hugely expanded and looks nothing like the business of even eight years ago,” she said.
Victoria said the neighbors do not object to the restaurant operating but instead object to “its operating out of bounds on a regular basis and continuing to get worse.”
“They seem very concerned about them being in there because they are not compliant. They’re not taking the effort to comply,” she said. “It’s an incredible circus atmosphere around the Deauville and it’s a strain on the environment and we need help in bringing them within some realm of compliance.”
Township Clerk Joanne Herron noted that the requirement for security personnel at entrances was the only condition previously attached to the liquor license not part of the planning board’s conditions. That was the only one attached to the renewal.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff