Liquor Licensing and the Staybridge Suites

[Susan Goetz]

With all due respect, I believe the article in today's Cranbury Press misrepresents the vote taken last week approving a liquor license renewal for the Staybridge Suites. It could easily be interpreted that we approved a liquor license for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. This is in no way accurate.

Two important points - First - Staybridge Suites currently possess a liquor license in accordance with the State regulations. They have had this license since first opening and every year, the TC votes on renewal of this and any other license renewal.

Second - There is certainly an application coming before the Zoning Board which would change the use of this facility from a hotel to a rehabilitation center. That may or may not be approved. If it is approved and the plans move forward to change the use to a rehab center, the liquor license would be invalid. It can not be transferred to an alternate use nor can it be retained by the owners and used elsewhere.

Therefore, the approval of the license was for a hotel. Should the plans for the rehab center not come to fruition, the hotel would be able to maintain their license just as before this plan was proposed. Under no circumstances would the State allow nor would we approve a liquor license for a rehab center. To think other wise is blatently incorrect. I just wanted to set the record straight.

[anon-0588]

[Susan Goetz]

Simply put, we are considering it because the applicant has the right to bring the question before us. This is a zoning issue and it will be the Zoning Board who hears the request and renders a decision. I would invite you and others with questions and concerns to try to attend the July 1 meeting to be held in the large meeting room (entrance just behind Town Hall if you do not know where the large meeting room is) and hear the application and ask your questions.

[Drinks 2-s119]

For further clarification, this is from the ABC guide to retail licensing...

HOTEL/MOTEL LICENSE (“36”). This license is a Plenary Retail Consumption License issued to a hotel or motel with 100 or more guest sleeping rooms. It is an exception to the population restrictions. The license may only be used in connection with a facility which meets the 100 room condition. Other Hotel/Motel licenses issued prior to 1969 are conditioned that they may be used only in connection with a facility with 50 or more guest sleeping rooms.