Selectmen Say 'No' To 9 New Liquor Licenses For Burlington Mall

BURLINGTON, MA — Approval of nine new liquor licenses for the Burlington Mall — which appeared to be a done deal aside from a rubber stamp from the state legislature after last fall's town meeting — may not be so easy for mall owner Simon Property Group. Selectmen unanimously said they did not approve the bill before the state legislature granting the new legislature. Selectmen said they were concerned with the number of licenses at the mall, as well as licenses in new development nearby.

Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved asking the state for the new licenses last fall, even after selectmen voted three to two against it. Simon is redeveloping the end of the mall that formally housed Sears into a mixed-use development that includes housing, retail space and restaurants. Simon has threatened to halt reconstruction on its redevelopment on one end of the mall, saying it needed all nine to make the project economically viable.

Patch has asked a spokesperson for Simon for comment and will update this story when we hear back from her.

At this week's selectmen's meeting, board members said they had been circumvented by the mall's owner as they tried to work out a compromise on the number of licenses and said they were "blindsided" by Simon's move to go straight to town meeting.

"The fact that the Mall did not continue conversations with us and instead went to Town Meeting was disappointing," Selectman Michael Runyan said.

In most cases, the state legislature approves bills granting new liquor licenses once they are approved at the local level. But the selectmen's vote to not support this week, which came at the request of the state, could factor into the final decision by state lawmakers.

The bill before the state legislature calls for five new full liquor licenses and four new licenses for beer and wine service. The bill has been in the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee since April.