License commission continues Luna change‑of‑location hearing, cites building, fire and health sign‑offs and requests Bishop’s Lounge distributor receipts

The License Commission on Sept. 17 continued the public hearing on an application to change the location and DBA of an annual all‑alcohol on‑premises license from 41 Strong (Bishop’s Lounge) to 300 Pleasant Street (proposed DBA Luna). The commission said it could not act on the license change until the building, fire and health departments signed off on the proposed physical space.

Applicant and commission account of the space
Carla Racine, owner of 41 Strong LLC (current Bishop’s Lounge), described the proposed space at 300 Pleasant Street as a second‑floor studio with lounge seating, a central bar, a small stage and a prospective capacity she believed to be 49 based on prior conversations. Building department staff said that, because the space would represent a change of use from office to an A‑2 occupancy (assembly/nightclub/restaurant), the applicant must file a zoning/permit application with the building department so staff could calculate occupant load and determine which code upgrades are necessary.

Building, fire and health department concerns
Building and fire staff on the call said several items must be resolved before a license change can be approved: an accurate occupant load based on square footage and restrooms, required plumbing fixtures (additional restrooms raise allowable occupancy), fire alarm and sprinkler requirements for the building and automatic fire‑suppression systems if the space meets thresholds for sprinklering. The building department representative said an unsprinklered, second‑floor assembly use would typically require sprinklers and other system upgrades for public safety, and that the applicant should begin the change‑of‑use permitting process immediately.

Licensing commission actions and conditions
Because the physical‑space approvals are incomplete, the commission continued the hearing to its next regular meeting (Oct. 15) and instructed the applicant to secure sign‑offs from Northampton building, fire and health departments before the commission can proceed. In addition, and separate from the location change, the commission said it had received information suggesting that, while operating Bishop’s Lounge, alcohol was procured at retail rather than through approved distributors. The commission asked Racine to voluntarily provide either receipts showing purchases from approved distributors or a written statement from distributors verifying purchases for the period in question. The clerk set a deadline of the following Friday (Sept. 26) for that documentation to be provided to the licensing office; the commission said submitting the documentation voluntarily could avoid a later violation proceeding.

Why this stalled and what to expect
The change of location application cannot be approved while building, fire or health departments are preparing code determinations for the altered use; those departments determine occupant load, restroom requirements and whether sprinklers or alarms must be installed. The applicant and building staff discussed that adding restrooms and sprinklering could be substantial work and could trigger obligations for the whole building. The commission emphasized that it could either continue the hearing while the technical approvals are pursued or deny the change of location at this time; the applicant requested the continuance.

Next steps and deadlines
- Applicant to file a change‑of‑use/zoning permit with the building department immediately and pursue required fire‑safety upgrades.
- Applicant to obtain building, fire and health sign‑offs before Oct. 15 hearing (the commission continued the matter to Oct. 15).
- Applicant to provide receipts or distributor confirmations for prior Bishop’s Lounge alcohol purchases by Sept. 26 to avoid a separate violation hearing.