Westport: Weatherlow alcohol, entertainment licenses approved after debate

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 6/20/19

Westport selectmen approved entertainment and wine and beer licenses for four summertime evening events at Weatherlow Farm on Sodom Road, but not without some back and forth at last week’s …

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Westport: Weatherlow alcohol, entertainment licenses approved after debate

Posted

Westport selectmen approved entertainment and wine and beer licenses for four summertime evening events at Weatherlow Farm on Sodom Road, but not without some back and forth at last week’s meeting.

Farm owner Ryan Wagner asked the board for approval of events on July 11 and 21, and August 8, 18 and 22, all starting at 5 or 5:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 or 9 p.m. (The August 22 request was not voted on because Mr. Wagner said his posted request was mistakenly made for August 29.)

Earlier this year, Mr. Wagner had asked selectmen to grant the farm a full liquor license so that it could avoid coming back for individual events but selectmen rejected that request.

This time, too, there were issues.

Selectman Brian Valcourt said that the Zoning Board of Appeals had stipulated that alcohol could be served within the building but not outside.

But Shana Shufelt, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen said, “The zoning commission does not have authority to regulate alcohol on the lawns outside.”

“Everywhere else that we have had these events in town, they go to 8 o’clock at night and stop,” Mr. Valcourt replied. “They are asking for 8:30, 9 p.m. — it’s just slow creeping …” And the zoning board, he continued, said they allowed events inside the barn, not outside.

Minutes of the zoning board “don’t reference the lawn outside,” Ms. Shufelt said.

BOS member Richard Brewer spoke in support of the events.

“This request is totally akin to what we did last year. I think Weatherlow is doing it the way we want it to be done.”

Police have said they don’t think events should go to 9 p.m., Mr. Valcourt said, because having people, especially after consuming alcohol, leave after dark is dangerous.

Selectman Steven Ouellette asked how many attendees the farm expects.

That is difficult to predict for a ticketed event, Mr. Wagner said.

Farm neighbor Frank Sherman said, “I want it clarified — is it outside or inside,” adding that the zoning board minutes “say only inside the barn … Do the boards talk to each other?”

The board voted 4-1, with Mr. Valcourt opposed, to allow the beer and wine licenses.

In a separate action, the board voted 4-1, Mr. Valcourt again opposed, to approve the entertainment licenses.

Mr. Wagner said the entertainment would be three-person acoustic ensembles.

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