Kathy Kiernan Newcomb, an Irish Eyes partner, said the restaurant filed an application Sept. 14 with the Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC), seeking permission to feature live, amplified music on the establishment’s ground-level deck. She said the restaurant has applied for permission to have music on the deck from 4 to 9 p.m., daily. Newcomb said the restaurant wants to feature a three-person, steel drum band.

She said residents within 1,000 feet of the restaurant have been notified by mail about the restaurant’s request as required byABCC regulations.

But Rachel Grier Reynolds, who lives on the opposite side of the canal from the Anglers Road restaurant, said five hours of amplified steel drum music, seven days a week isn’t a mellifluent idea.

“I think it would be excessive. I don’t think the whole town has to be subjected to that. It’s unreasonable, it’s loud and it’s disturbing,” Grier Reynolds said.

After learning of the restaurant’s application, Grier Reynolds said she began gathering resident signatures on a petition opposing the application.

As of last week, about 60 people had signed, she said. Her petition sparked at least one other petition that also opposes the application, she said.

Grier Reynolds said she might object less to the restaurant’s plans if the music weren’t amplified and if daily performances weren’t permitted.

She said Rehoboth Beach requires all live musical performances to take place inside a restaurant or venue.

“I can’t imagine walking in Rehoboth and hearing every establishment playing amplified music outside,” she said.

She said Irish Eyes could obtain special permits for those instances when they wanted to feature outdoor, amplified music.

“But this is something different, and I think it’s excessive,” she said.

Newcomb said the ABCC must first consider the application and then modify or deny it before the City of Lewes might consider the request.

“We’ve been good neighbors, and we want to have the community support because we’ve supported the community and they’ve supported us,” said Newcomb.

She said nearly a decade ago the restaurant featured live steel drum music on an outdoor deck but gave up the privilege when the bar was enlarged.

“Since then, many of our customers say they’ve missed sitting out on the deck listening to steel drum music. They’ve been asking us to get the music back,” Newcomb said.

She said the restaurant’s partners are open to suggestions.

“We don’t want to do anything the community doesn’t want,” Newcomb said.

She said the restaurant is on schedule to reopen by the middle of this month when construction, inspection and finishing touches on the new building are complete.

The restaurant’s previous building was destroyed last New Year’s eve by a fire touched off by a carelessly discarded cigarette.

The ABCC will set a date for a public hearing on the live music application. Commission hearings are typically held in Sussex County Council Chambers, on The Circle in Georgetown.