The Select Board approved a common victualler license for the Swampscott Center for Performing Arts but postponed votes on liquor and entertainment licenses until next week.

Town Meeting approved an RFP allowing a lease of up to 30 months from the date of the vote, extending through June 2028. At the town-wide meeting, Town Administrator Nick Connors said the additional time would help offset utility, insurance, and debt costs, while requiring no town capital spending.

The short-term lease will run alongside ongoing redevelopment planning. Connors announced during Wednesday’s Select Board meeting that he would anticipate the draft of the long-term RFP this summer. The Advisory Committee finalized its recommendation for a mixed-use and half-parkland concept. The plan envisions two rows of buildings totaling about 25,000 square feet if built at two stories, positioned perpendicular to the road with a 40-foot opening to preserve views into the courtyard and open space. The model includes roughly 28 parking spaces.

The extended timeline also gives the town more time to negotiate with the Archdiocese of Boston over a potential purchase of the adjacent St. John’s Church parking lot.

According to Select Board discussions, the proposal includes live music in the dining room, a kitchen, Mariah’s Cafe and Grab the Bagel in the former fish market space, and an exhibit highlighting Swampscott’s history.

The common victualler license, which allows a business to prepare and serve food for on-site consumption, permits operations from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, according to Community and Economic Development Director Marzie Galazka.

The former Hawthorne-by-the-Sea restaurant operated until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The board unanimously approved the license. 

For the entertainment license, the Swampscott Center for the Performing Arts, through Johnny Ray (Nicastro), applied to have live bands of up to six musicians, solo players, as well as other entertainment elements from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Sunday. 

The board delayed action on the entertainment license to allow Johnny Ray to amend the application to include additional items, such as televisions. He said the building was designed to minimize noise from escaping the venue. He also shared that doors and windows will be closed if entertainment is present.

The Swampscott Center for the Performing Arts applied for a liquor license on its premises Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., according to Galazka.

The former Hawthorne-by-the-Sea restaurant had a liquor license as well. The Athanas family’s liquor license was for Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

“But I also want to point out to you that the adjacent businesses, such as Mission on the Bay, their liquor license is until 1 a.m.,” Galazka said, adding that Sam Walker’s and Dockside also are until 1 a.m. 

Although residents and businesses within 300 feet of the property were notified, Connors said, the board would delay a vote on the liquor license until its next meeting to allow additional time for public comment. The board also agreed to hold a virtual meeting June 8 at 5 p.m. so the Swampscott Center for Performing Arts can move its application through the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission before opening.

The entertainment license will be voted on at the same time.

Ray announced that the Swampscott Center for Performing Arts will have an open house on July 3.

“I just want people to be able to use the property and see the fireworks and have a good time,” Johnny Ray said. “By then, you’ll be able to see the environment that we’ve created inside. It’s going to be fun.”