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 Maverick's 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.
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."
"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:
- Town Manager Richard Montuori 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 bridge that had been washed out by the March/April flooding in 2010.
- Acting on the recommendation of Police Chief Timothy Sheehan, 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.
Kate S.
7:13 am on Friday, April 29, 2011
Seems to me that if you buy a house near a pig farm, you shouldn't be surprised when it smells bad. If you buy a house next to a high school football stadium, you shouldn't be shocked when there are hordes of teenagers buzzing around on game day. And if you buy a house that abuts a restaurant you shouldn't be surprised that it's loud. Also, while I find urinating on a fence disgusting and think whoever is doing that should be ashamed of themselves, what real responsibility does Mavericks have for that kind of behavior? Should they post a guard or something?
I don't know anybody who owns or works at Mavericks. I've never even been in there, so I honestly don't care whether or not they get a karaoke license, but I am continually amazed by people complaining about the restaurant/pig farm/football stadium abutting their house when they HAD to know it was there before they bought their house.
George
12:25 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
Like you I am continually amazed. Continually amazed by people that pontificate on matters they know nothing about. That place was a restaurant that closed at 10PM or earlier each night. Not a problem. Then it morphed into a bar that now closes at midnight or 1AM. Problem.
Kirsten
8:54 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
Extremely well said! I only hope the message was understood.
malcolm nichols
6:39 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
Karaoke is no louder that a juke box. The simple approval is to restricte the db level at the abutters to a certain level. There a plenty of acoustical consultants that could help resolve. The other neighbor issues have nothing to do with permit.
Kirsten
8:52 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
I have never been there nor do I live remotely close, but I still feel the impact. The traffic there on weekends is rough as are the crowds. Never mind peeing on a fence, how about avoiding the drunks on 38 or avoiding Haffners because the party sometimes continues there. If the crowds are already wild, why amp it up with karaoke? It seems to me they're already having a grand old time.
While I agree that people shouldn't complain if they knew what they were getting into when purchasing a house, many of the residents where there before Maverick's AND before it became the late night hang out for all the surrounding towns! It's absolutely fair for them to fight!! I know I would!
gloriann
10:14 am on Friday, July 29, 2011
I do live close and it is unfair to blame traffic on one restaurant when the entire strip of 38 in Tewksbury is stores and restaurants and other businesses. That is what causes the traffic at certain hours, like lunchtime and commuting hours. Definitely NOT any traffic in the evening, so how could it be blamed on Mavericks?
Sarah
10:26 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
Jeez, it sounds like the manager wants to help, and he withdrew the request for now. Maybe things will actually work out for most/all parties involved...
Karyn
12:30 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Just what those residents need, more drunken people screeching karaoke till the wee hours....then driving on our town roads. Give the neighborhood a break!
Jade
8:34 am on Monday, May 2, 2011
I live next to the VFW on Vernon Street, and put up with the same noise, including the trash thrown all over everyone's property. This building was erected after the houses were put in and we have to put up with the drunk's too. We didn't chose to have this building erected here. It was better when it was St. Mary's Church. The church goers were respectful! This building is a glorified water holing and it is disgraceful that they call it a VFW. It should be called the Vernon Street Catering Hall.
Jade
8:38 am on Monday, May 2, 2011
I meant to say a glofied watering hole. Typo mistake. Sorry!
Kirsten
9:32 am on Monday, May 2, 2011
Bonnie, I've heard the same thing about the VFW from so many people. I guess the trash blown everywhere is intense at times as are the people.
Jade
9:48 am on Monday, May 2, 2011
Thank you Kirsten for you comment about the VFW. I have to say one thing, at least Maverick's listens to it abutters and withdrew their idea of having Karaoke. They also pays taxes to the Town of Tewksbury. The VFW just does its own thing and doesn't inform the residents about any of their doings. (Tax Exempt privileges too) I like your comment also about the trash blown everywhere and that it is as intense at times as are the people. It is so true! Thank you for your comment.
George
12:28 pm on Monday, May 2, 2011
Mavericks didn't listen to the abutters. They withdrew the request, for now, for no other reason than they didn't have the necessary votes to get the license the night of the Board of Selectmen meeting.
Jade
12:44 pm on Monday, May 2, 2011
At least it goes before the Board of Selectman. The VFW seems to do what it wants to do.
gloriann
10:11 am on Friday, July 29, 2011
I agree that Karaoke is not any louder than a juke box. It also draws a more sophisticated crowd of folks that follow karaoke and just want to sing. If they hold karaoke at the rte. 38 side of the building (which is where the bar is) I cannot see how the neighbors way behind could hear this. Do I have to name all the other restaurant and bars that do have karaoke with houses either right next door or in back? You all know who they are. I live in the townhouses across the street from Mavericks, and often drive by. I have NEVER heard any noise - music or otherwise from that restaurant. It is not fair to deny Maverick's the same oppotunity that other restaurants and bars have in this town. Gloriann
Joe Bill
9:03 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Gloriann are you kidding me? Karaoke draws sophisticated crowds??? Do you think putting karoake in this gin mill is going to pave the way for people in golf shirts to come in and sing? Also, you might not hear any noise from where you live for various reasons...the main road noise blocks it out, patriot auto body, or maybe your just too liquored up after stumbling home from Mavericks. I'm sure you have a wonderful singing voice though...all raspy from the GPC Cigarettes.
beatrice
7:24 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I suppose that many of you are not old enough to remember that Maverick's used to be a bar/restaurant called The Anchor, that had live entertainment. This location has been doing this type of business for a long time. Not sure what was there first, the homes in back or the business, but anyone that bought a home in back of this location in the last 50 years bought it with a bar for their neighbor.
southie
9:46 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Anchor had great pizza
gloriann
7:29 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Maverick's DID get their karaoke license. I thought that was general knowledge. It will be starting up soon. The place can only hold so many people and it is always jammed, both in the front and the restaurant area in the back. Juke box and sports games are always on. What would be the difference?