Bouley Wins Go-Ahead on Liquor License

Community Board 1 has voted to recommend that a high-profile restaurateur and chef, David Bouley, be granted a liquor license for his newest restaurant despite staunch opposition from a number of its members.

Yesterday's decision goes against a previous vote by the community board's TriBeCa Committee recommending that Mr. Bouley be denied a license by the New York State Liquor Authority for his planned Japanese eatery on West Broadway, Brushstrokes.

More than a dozen of Mr. Bouley's supporters lined up to speak in front of the board on behalf of Mr. Bouley's restaurants and his character. Speakers cited the commerce his restaurants have attracted to TriBeCa for 20 years, as well as his generosity to local charities.

At previous meetings of the TriBeCa committee, members had raised a number of concerns about Mr. Bouley's restaurants, including health code violations and traffic congestion.

With the approval of the community board, Mr. Bouley will likely receive a license from the state liquor authority for his new restaurant.