Politics & Government

Maverick's Request for Karaoke Strikes Sour Note With Neighbors

Restaurant owners withdraw request but will likely refile.

Seeing the handwriting on the wall, a lawyer representing the owners of withdrew a request for a Karaoke entertainment license at the end of a hearing before the Board of Selectmen, Tuesday night.

"We need three votes and I can see that the votes aren't there," said Atty. Leonard Glionna. "So with the board's (permission) we'd like to withdraw the request."

The decision to withdraw the request came after a contentious public hearing, in which several residents, who live in homes directly behind Maverick's, stepped to the podium to complain about long-standing noise problems and other issues related to the business.

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One neighbor complained that noise from the restaurant's juke box in the spring and summer "rocks my house." Another complained that patrons have urinated on her fence late at night. Several mentioned that Mavericks is a favorite spot for local motorcyclists, who rev their engines in the parking lot and roar through the neighborhood after midnight.

"It's about the noise," said George Kelly, who lives on Madeline Road. "The juke box is loud. I don't know if the doors are open or closed but if they are closed and it's that loud now, imagine what it will be like with the Karaoke. It will be that much louder."

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"They get to go home at the end of the night," said John Trainor, who lives on Madeline Road, speaking of the Maverick's employees. "We have to live with the noise seven days a week. These are families living there."

Maverick's is owned by the Proctor family, which was represented at the hearing by Rene Proctor, daughter of Richard Proctor.

'Originally, they had asked for an entertainment license that would also have included live music and dancing. But they announced Tuesday they were cutting back on the request.

Also in attendance was family member Bill Proctor, who said he has been brought in to be the new manager for Maverick's. Bill Proctor said he went around the neighborhood talking to neighbors the day before the hearing and indicated he is committed to working with the abutters to address their concerns.

Bill Proctor said the business was trying to keep up with local competitors, many of whom had added Karaoke recently. The neighbors countred that other clubs in town are not located so close to residential neighborhoods.

Members of the Board of Selectmen said they didn't feel they had enough information about noise impact in order to make a decision. Specifically, the question was raised about the location of the room that will be used for Karaoake and any noise mitigation measures that might be taken inside the building. Also, selectmen said they were hoping to know how far the homes are from the room that would be used for the Karaoke.

The selectmen voted 3-1 to allow Maverick's to withdraw the request for the license. They are free to re-apply but would have to start the process all over again. Todd Johnson cast the vote in opposition and David Gay was not in attendance.

Johnson stated called it an "unfortunate situation," and one that was created many years ago by the zoning laws that permitted a restaurant/bar to be be so operate so close to a residential neighborhood.

In other business:

  • announced that a memorandum of understanding had been signed by officials from Wilmington, Tewksbury and Billerica relative to the repairs on the Whipple/Broad Road Bridge. The memorandum of understanding is the next step needed toward repairing a
  • Acting on the recommendation of , the board voted to  appointment Paul E. Morris, Edward D. Jackman and Andrew J. Richardson as Tewksbury Police officers. They will start at the Lowell Police Academy on June 13.


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