By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

The New Boston Planning Board has granted conditional approval to a proposed 75-seat addition to a popular local restaurant and tavern.

The unanimous approval came during a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 10, following more than an hour’s worth of questioning of New Boston Tavern owner Matt Eggers and Eggers’ brother Chris.

The questioning turned sharp on occasion, with members of the planning board mainly wondering whether operating into the early morning hours on weekends might generate problems with police coverage.

“Like it or not, you are absolutely, positively going to generate calls for service,” said Gordon Carlstrom, the selectmen’s representative to the planning board.

When local police service stops at 11 p.m., coverage shifts to State Police Troop B in Milford. A busy night in other parts of Hillsborough County could lead to waits between 45 minutes to two hours, Carlstrom said.

However, Matt Eggers said he had spoken with Police Chief Chris Krajenka on the issue, and the chief had told him the bar would not pose a threat to local safety.

The new bar’s proposed hours run from noon to midnight Sunday to Thursday and noon to 1:30 a.m. Friday to Saturday.

The New Boston Tavern is currently open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at 35 Mont Vernon Road.

The hearing marked the fifth time the Eggers have met with the planning board about expanding their 122-seat bar and lounge to include a new sports bar located in an adjacent building called Neville Mill Hall.

Planning board Chairman Peter Hogan asked if Eggers would consider rolling back the hours of operation to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Matt Eggers declined, saying, “If I have an occasion that warrants staying open, I want to be able to accommodate that,” he said.

Board members spent much of the meeting considering ways to hedge their approval in case the proposed expansion produced unforeseen problems.

“What we’re looking for is a trigger that allows us to revisit the approval” if the bar proved to be a nuisance or safety concern, Hogan said.

A potential solution to that dilemma came from resident Brandy Mitroff, to tie approval to getting a liquor license.

Some conditions remain to be met before the planning board’s approval can take effect.

Matt Eggers, who owns the tavern with his parents, Jim and Carol Eggers, must present the board a revised letter of approval from the Department of Environmental Services regarding the establishment’s septic system and seating capacity, along with revised site plans and execution of a site review.

Eggers said he will have the required materials to the planning board prior to their next meeting on Nov. 14, and that he hopes to open the expanded bar before the end of the year.