Scituate council advances first reading to add a fifth beverage license; second reading set for next month

The Scituate Town Council approved first reading of Ordinance 26‑04, which proposes amending the town code to increase the maximum number of beverage liquor licenses from four to five.

During the public hearing and council discussion, members stressed that creating an additional license does not automatically grant one to any existing applicant. "We're adding this new license. It doesn't necessarily mean that we're giving them to the two applicants that we've had," said a council member (Speaker 7). Town staff and counsel explained that each application must still be considered on its merits, typically requiring zoning approvals and allowing the council, when sitting as the liquor licensing board, to impose conditions. "They have to usually go through zoning for a special use permit... and then, the council has the ability to make conditions on each and every license as it sees fit based on the testimony and the public hearing that you receive," said a town staff member (Speaker 8).

The council closed the public‑hearing step for this reading and set a date certain for the second reading next month; establishing the cap simply creates the potential for one additional license to exist in town subject to future application and conditions.