BRIDGEWATER - Fairview Inn ownership has asked the town to shelve its request to hike the number of people who can sit on a poolside deck at one time.

 The registered company of the inn and its restaurant, Cranberry's Dining, wrote the town in late August to cancel its application.

 "The proprietors and management cite among a number of issues an apparent lack of confidence and negative press associated with the request," wrote Jerry Porodo, president of MAJN Holdings.

 The Queen Street inn wanted its development agreement amended to increase seating capacity to 48 seats from 28 on the deck.

 But the town's planning department determined an unlimited number of people can already be on the deck at one time and floated the prospect of capping the number of people on the deck at 50, during specific hours, to alleviate any noise potential. Inn ownership was agreeable to the cap.

 Town council passed a motion August 11 directing the planning department to consult the inn's neighbours before any vote and then report back to council. A couple of councillors voted against the motion because they felt there was no reason to hold up the request.

 Since that time, the planning department received two letters from Queen Street homeowners, one of which asked that, if council approved the request, the matter be reviewed with the neighbours a year later. The other letter cited parking concerns as part of their opposition.

 Mayor Carroll Publicover said he was pleased town council was forthcoming about the matter and suggested there were no guarantees.

 "It's no good to build someone's confidence, give them every indication, then pull the rug from under them after," the mayor said last week.

 He also suggested attitudes may change in time.

 "The neighbours spoke their minds and I appreciate that and I think they [the inn] have a very successful operation there and will have in the future and maybe things will change in a couple of years when the neighbourhood sees what a great operation it is."

 When the hotel was under another owner in 2002 the poolside deck was built without the proper paperwork. The next year, after the deck was finished, council endorsed a development agreement.

  Still when the Fairview was being operated by former ownership, the town received complaints from nearby landowners regarding the use of the pool and deck after permitted hours of operation.

posted on 09/09/08