Like most bureaucracies, Community Boards have their own lingo that can confuse the untrained ear. For instance, when the Manhattan Community Board 3 votes on recommendations for liquor licenses, it doesn't just say that it approves the application. That would be too simple. Instead it currently uses language that goes along the lines of "Community Board 3 votes to deny approval unless [restaurant] agrees to the following stipulations..." The applicants must then sign the stipulation, have it notarized and returned to the committee before the full board meeting. Then, on the basis of that strange phrasing, the board votes to recommend
that the State Liquor Authority give a restaurant its license, and hopes the applicants do as they promised.
Unfortunately, this can lead to misunderstandings with first timers. For instance, Eater reports that "Lok Sing Chinese, Friend House, Obrigado, Zerza, Rolo, Pho So, and the Kelley and Ping [sic] space, were all denied transfers, alterations, or upgrades." In fact, according to our sources who were at last night's meeting, all of those restaurants – except Friend House, see below – were "denied unless" they agreed to previously discussed stipulations. Which is to say, they passed muster with the community board and now just need approval from the SLA.
For an example of how these resolutions look, here is what was voted on and approved regarding the space at 325 Bowery (the old Kelley and Peng space):
VOTE: To deny unless applicant agrees to operate as a full service Sicilian restaurant, with hours of operation Sun/Tues/Wed - 11:OO AM to Midnight; Thurs/Fri/Sat - 11 AM - 2:30 AM Applicant further reiterates that it will not request a sidewalk cafe, and agrees that it will close its French windows at 10 PM, that the establishment will only play background music, that the establishment will use speakers, but no amplifiers, that the establishment will not host live music, that the establishment will serve food until within one hour of closing, and that the establishment's last seating will be no later than 10:30 PM on all nights.
Another bit of confusion with these meetings is that attendance is mandatory for parties seeking licenses (see above). Though Eater reports that "what is assumed to be Gabe Stulman's place, Penmanship" was approved for a new liquor license, that is in fact incorrect. Mr. Stulman was not in attendance at last night's meeting, which means he missed his chance and will now have to restart his application process. Besides Stulman, representatives from Zatkaria Latzka, 174 Rivington, and Friend House also all failed to appear and must start again in their quest to serve alcohol.