At last night's monthly meeting of the Eight Streets Neighborhood Association, Mr. David Haddon and Mr. Garrett Harker requested the support of the Membership in their application to be allowed to have outdoor seating at their new establishment, B&G Oysters Ltd. (550 Tremont St.). The proposed seasonal seating would be for 22 people, dining would be at both lunch and dinner, and the proposed outdoor seating area would be completely cleared of patrons by 11:00 PM.

Many Members and abutting residents hold serious concerns around the noise level which would be associated with outdoor seating in a rear courtyard (which would be exacerbated by the "canyon effect" of being surrounded by high brick walls). These concerns were compounded when we learned just last night that the intent is to have the main entrance, of not only the outdoor seating but of the entire restaurant, be not via the existing entrance on the business district side of the building (Tremont St.) but via a gate on the residential Waltham St. side.

Eight Streets NA Membership voted to not oppose the License for outdoor seating as described above with two conditions. First, that after 11:00 PM that patrons be encouraged to exit the restaurant via the Tremont St. door. Secondly, that the License only be granted on a trial basis of one year, and if at that time it is found that the outdoor seating is causing any issues which Eight Streets residents find unacceptable that the License for outdoor seating then be revoked.

In a separate issue, Eight Streets Membership had voted in April not to oppose the transfer of the existing beer/wine licenses attached to the former restaurants at 550 Tremont (Le Gamin) and 552 Tremont (Rave) "as is." Mr. Haddon has explained that there was a typographical error in their application for beer/wine licenses to replace the "old" ones, which had expired, indicating a closing time of 11:00 PM when they had intended to request a 1:00 AM time. It is our understanding that the beer/wine licenses have been approved on the condition that Eight Streets NA confirms that it was, and is, our intention to allow for a 1:00 AM closing time. Mr. Haddon had indicated that he would present us with documentation showing that the former restaurants were licensed to be open until 1:00 AM but he was unable to provide this documentation.

Eight Streets NA continues to support B&G Oysters Ltd. and The Butcher Shop having beer/wine licenses which exactly mirror those held by the former proprietors. If, and only if, the Licensing Board's records indicate that Le Gamin and Rave were licensed to be open until 1:00 AM then we do not oppose their replacement businesses being open until that same hour.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns on this subject.

Thank you.

Yours,

Tim Kozlowski

President

CC: David Haddon, 10 Woodlawn, Needhan, MA. 02492