Selectmen approve temporary lease space for Harborview Restaurant; special amusement hearing draws no public comment

Stonington Selectmen approved a temporary lease that would allow the Harborview Restaurant to reserve the area in front of its deck for outdoor seating if COVID-19 conditions require expanded spacing.

Town Manager TM Billings said the Harbor View special amusement application was complete, published in the local paper and that no public comments had been received. Gail Stinson, the new owner of the Harborview, told the board she hoped to keep seating on the deck but wanted permission to lease front-space as an option should local COVID-19 case counts rise.

The board discussed timing, including the possibility of authorizing the space from June through September, and unanimously approved a motion to permit the lease space (motion by John Steed, second by John Robbins; vote 4-0).

The Selectmen also approved the minutes and warrants for that meeting as routine business.

The lease approval was framed as temporary, pandemic-contingent permission; the board did not adopt a multi-year policy change for sidewalk or waterfront dining in the meeting’s record.

Next steps: TM will finalize lease paperwork and the board may revisit timing or conditions if local public-health guidance changes.