By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — There’s a new wrinkle in the Old Mill Grocery and Deli’s effort to serve liquor.

The new operators of the store at 222 Hillspoint Road, Romanacci, have withdrawn their liquor license application with the state and intend to file a new application for a café license.

After a long public debate, the establishment obtained a text amendment to local zoning regulations designed to allow it to seek a liquor permit from the state.

Not long after, Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young signed a state liquor permit application for Romanacci Compo Beach LLC, giving local zoning authority approval for what was said to be “retail food establishment, no more than 10 seats.”

Lawyer Joel Green of Bridgeport, who was hired by some neighbors to oppose the text amendment, on July 16 filed an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeals, challenging the town’s sign-off on the liquor permit.

His clients are Robin Tauck of 227 Hillspoint Road LLC and Hillspoint Road LLC (223 Hillspoint) and Ellen van Dorsten of 216 Hillspoint Road.

“We have withdrawn our application for a restaurant liquor permit at said premise and we are in the process of submitting a café permit for same premise,” Thomas Brennan, a liquor license consultant from Stamford hired by Romanacci, wrote to Young in an Aug. 2 email.

That might have rendered the appeal moot, the permit in question having been withdrawn.

Asked about that Monday, Young said it was a legal question and she’s not a lawyer.

“In my lay-person’s view, the answer appears to be yes, the appeal appears to no longer be ripe,” she wrote in an email.

She said she forwarded the withdrawal notice to Green with the same question and would forward any response to the Westport Journal.

Green could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Brennan also could not be reached, so it’s not clear how far along a reapplication might be in the process.

The state’s liquor permit application for cafes appears to require several local sign-offs — the certification of the local zoning official that the application meets local zoning and laws; a certification from the town clerk that the town has no laws restricting hours beyond what the state state’s; the fire marshal’s approval that the premises are constructed in a manner safe for the use; and the local health official’s approval for a patio.

Read more about the various requirements for different licenses here.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.