The Stonebridge Bistro in Onset has had an uphill battle with its deck expansion, but the restaurant cleared its last hurdle on Tuesday, when the Selectmen OK'd changes to the restaurant's liquor license that will allow it to seat customers on the deck once its built.

Expansion of a back deck on the restaurant was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board last summer. The Board of Selectmen, as the liquor licensing authority, then had to grant approval for an updated license because the premises will be altered -- while staying away from land use issues brought before other boards.

The license was granted with a number of stipulations attached, including limits on the decibel level coming from the property, a fenced-in dumpster, a requirement that live entertainment stay inside the restaurant, and the addition of a "breaker bar" on the back emergency exit, which would set an alarm off if the door is opened.

The Stonebridge property, which includes the restaurant and a marina, is located at 5 East Boulevard in Onset on the banks of the East River.

Restaurant owner Justin Hadley and property/marina owner John Cornish faced opposition to the expansion from neighbors who have raised concerns about lack of parking in the neighborhood, as well as increased noise and garbage that could result from an expansion.

A letter from neighbors who oppose the expansion was read into the record on Tuesday, but Selectmen Chair Peter Teitelbaum pointed out that there were subjects raised in the letter "that are not germane to the Board of Selectmen voting as a liquor authority."

Neighbor Tom McManus brought the letter forward, saying, "My neighbors and I have been pursuing this issue for the past 17 months," without success. He added that he did not expect to get the answer he was hoping for from the board on Tuesday.

Hadley said that while he understands his neighbors' concerns, he was surprised by the level of opposition.

"Maybe we were a little unprepared because we didn't expect any opposition to a porch that previously existed," said Hadley.

Hadley pointed out that the new porch will be built on the existing footings of the old porch, which was torn down because it was in disrepair.

McManus also brought up a 1916 decree made by the state Supreme Judicial Court in favor of the Onset Protective League, meant to protect the East Boulevard area from further development. He also addressed parking and accessibility for the handicapped.

"None of those matters are the purview of this board," said Teitelbaum."When we act as an appeals court for land use issues, we get sued. It's that simple."

Selectman and Onset resident Steve Holmes said he understood the concerns of the neighbors, and noted that previous boards had to deal with problems arising from patrons of a neighboring business, which used to cause disturbances in the neighborhood.

"We don't want to go back there," said Holmes. "We had people urinating in people's yards."

Holmes pointed out, however, that such issues have never arisen with the Stonebridge Bistro.

"He's never run that kind of establishment since he started," Holmes said of Hadley, "and I don't think he's going to start now."

Hadley hopes to open the deck to customers in early June.