Sackett St. Restaurant's Liquor License Application Vetoed by CB6

Citing neighborhood concerns and fear of "commercial creep," Community Board 6 voted Wednesday night to disapprove a liquor license application for a restaurant at 204 Sackett Street.

The 9-4 at the licenses and permits committee meeting two weeks ago, but on Wednesday night, CB6 member Glenn Kelly reiterated his problem with the application.

"The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association has fought long and hard to protect the residential character and to minimize commercial creepage onto residential blocks," he said. "We want to maintain the residential character of these blocks."

204 Sackett Street is one building in from the corner of Henry Street, which is zoned for commercial use from Degraw to Carroll streets. The property is within what's called a "commercial overlay," and is therefore also zoned for commercial use.

But Kelly and other members of the board were concerned with noise levels and the likely amount of foot traffic associated with a restaurant and bar.

"I wish them well, someplace else," said Kelly.

Tyler Maganzini, the applicant and co-owner of the yet to be named restaurant, said a lot of misinformation was spread at the meeting, and because nearly 10 members abstained from voting for lack of information, the vote should have been tabled, and he should have been able to set the record straight.

"It's disappointing to see people knowingly make a decision that's misinformed," he said. "I respect what they do, but it should have been tabled and reviewed."

At the meeting, the location of the restaurant was thought by some members to be between two residential properties, when in fact the storefront is between a garage on one side, and Maybelle's Cafe (formerly Naidre's) on the other. It was also said that the establishment would be a bar with some food, but according to the application Maganzini and his co-owners submitted to the Community Board, it will be a full restaurant, with cocktails also served.

"The fact that they stated we were a bar with little food like some small appetizers is almost slanderous in nature," said Maganzini, who also owns on Hoyt and Union streets. "In no way did we ever present the restaurant that way."

Other members expressed concern about noise, with one member likening the situation to Union Hall, which is located in a commercial overlay on Union Street in Park Slope. The difference though, is that Union Hall is a two-story bar and rock club, and the establishment at 204 Sackett St. is a 700 square-foot French restaurant.

There was also some concern about whether the surrounding community was aware of the restaurant's liquor license application. As required, the applicants gave informational flyers to the people living in the vicinity, with the date and location of the licensing committee meeting. But the location of the meeting was changed last minute, said Maganzini, and it was too late to print new flyers and drop them off. Maganzini said he and his co-owners stood outside the restaurant for an afternoon telling people about the meeting.

Of course, the Community Board's recommendation is only advisory, and the State Liquor Authority makes the actual decision. Maganzini has vowed to turn to the community surrounding 204 Sackett Street, to see what the response is, and to refer to that support in their application.

"I want the real community, not the community board, to tell me how they feel," he said.