PORTSMOUTH — Saying she’s losing money by not being able to sell alcohol at weddings and other events, Thriving Tree Coffee House owner Kristen Kidd was granted a Class BV liquor license Monday night for her business at 706 Park Ave.

The license, granted by the Town Council, is for the building as well as about 7,000 square feet of land behind it, including an area for a tent. The designated area will be roped off about 35 feet from the waters of Blue Bill Cove. The license is contingent upon food service always being available when alcohol is served. 

Ms. Kidd said she has no intention of changing the direction of her business; the liquor license will merely help recoup expenses.

“I’m not looking to be a bar,” she told the council. “The area is so beautiful — you have a beautiful sunset and everybody wants to be in the backyard. Coffee is just not kicking it for me. If I’m going to cater a wedding and I have to get insurance for them to cater a BYOB … that’s money out of my pocket.”

The only issue that came into question Monday night was the layout of the designated area. Town Solicitor Kevin Gavin said the liquor license needs to be for a defined area that’s part of the food service business, and he hadn’t been able to access the layout before the meeting.

“It’s not to have parties out on the lawn,” Mr. Gavin said, explaining that the BV license is not just for special events, but must be connected to the coffee shop’s food service business.

After some delay, a layout of the defined area for the license, including the roped-off 100x70-foot zone outside, was displayed.

During the hearing, only one member of the public spoke. Lou Pestana of Tiverton, who said he frequents Thriving Tree often, spoke in favor of granting the license.

“I’m going to have my 70th birthday party there, and hopefully we’ll have booze,” Mr. Pestana said. “I know she’s going to do a good job.” 

Support for bus shelters

In other business Monday night, the council unanimously approved a resolution calling for the town to work with the R.I. Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to bring bus shelters to town. 

There are no RIPTA shelters for any of the 52 bus stops in Portsmouth, as the council decided years ago it didn’t want them, mainly due to concerns over advertising. But the need for shelters is greater now, according to the resolution, due to initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and the push for more people to use public transportation.

Greg Nordin, chief of strategic advancement for RIPTA, told the council there are about 300 bus shelters across the state but the agency was looking to double that number within the next two years, “and bring some of those to Portsmouth.” 

It costs about $12,000 to $15,000 for a “reasonably nice, solidly built shelter,” Mr. Nordin said, adding the cost is higher when you add amenities such as lighting, bike racks, trash cans and more. 

Since RIPTA is taking on the cost of installing the shelters as well as their maintenance, a uniform design to keep costs down would be used in most cases, he said. Barrington’s bus shelters look different from RIPTA’s typical structures because the town funded them, he said.

RIPTA would work with each municipality to determine where the shelters would be installed. Ideally, they would carry no advertising, but Mr. Nordin could not guarantee that. 

Town Planner Gary Crosby said in addition to getting bus shelters, he’d like to see RIPTA expand service to people who are more than a 10-minute walk to East or West Main roads, where the stops are located. The densely populated Island Park area, in particular, would be an ideal spot for another stop or two, he said.

Council member Keith Hamilton agreed, saying RIPTA should study how many more people would use the bus if the route went down Park Avenue, Hummocks Avenue, Anthony Road and looped back. 

Mr. Nordin said the agency could certainly look into expanding service to Island Park, but longer routes could discourage some riders from taking the bus. “You’re looking at travel times of 45 minutes sitting on the bus to get to your destination,” he said, noting that Route 60 goes between Newport and East Providence.

There is also not a huge demand for service expansion in Portsmouth, which averages only 110 daily boardings both ways, he said.

Outdoor movies

Sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, the council approved three newportFlim documentary film screenings to be held outdoors on Thursday nights starting in late July.

The first will be held at Glen Park from 6-10:30 p.m. on July 29. The next two will run from 6:30-10:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 at the International Polo Grounds at Glen Farm, and then on Aug. 26 at Safe Harbor New England Boatworks, 1 Lagoon Road.

In the flesh?

The Town Council’s next meeting is the annual budget hearing at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9. Whether that meeting will be held in person or virtually, however, is yet to be determined.

“Would it be possible for us to have that meeting at the high school auditorium, where people would still be able to socially distance?” Mr. Hamilton asked.

Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. said the executive order that requires public meetings to be held online still stands. “Until it’s amended or allowed to lapse, this is the way we’re supposed to hold the meetings,” he said. 

Mr. Hamilton said he’d like the town to prepare for an in-person meeting on June 9, if one is permitted. The hearing should also be live-streamed, to allow residents to view from home, he said.

The council will also hold regular meetings at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 14 and 28..