A contentious and long-anticipated application to allow a summer concert series to continue at a local business began its public hearing process on Monday.

The application requests up to three outdoor entertainment “events” a week – specifically music concerts – at Marty’s Driving Range in Mason from Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekends. Marty’s was a venue for concerts until last year, when the town issued a cease and desist order based on parking and noise complaints. The owners have sought permission to reopen ever since.

The most recent proposal, presented by Martin and Nicole Ruggiero included an expanded outdoor area where patrons would be able to consume alcohol, and where up to 270 cars could be parked. The Zoning Board requested more information.

The plan would allow patrons to bring alcoholics drinks out to the stage. That, coupled with a potential 500 to 800 guests attending events gave the board some pause.

Voices from the audience were mixed. Multiple townspeople, including several abutters, spoke in favor of the Ruggieros and their business, saying that they were not bothered by the music.

“We sit on our deck and listen to it,” said Mary Pierce. “And we enjoy it. It doesn’t bother us at all.”

But noise remained one of the main concerns for other residents, including the Conservation Commission, who asked that the Zoning Board consider the matter one of regional impact because of the noise – which would mean legally noticing other impacted towns as abutters who would be able to give testimony during public hearings. Bob LaRochelle, chair of the Conservation Commission, said that he had spoken to people up to four miles away from Marty’s who said that they could hear the music on some nights.

Tina Brigham of Mason urged the board to consider requiring a sound study to determine the impact of the noise.

The board did not take a vote or have any discussion regarding considering the application as having a regional impact before concluding for the night.

Nicole Ruggiero told the board that she has been working with a sound engineer to make improvements to the stage that are intended to dampen the sound. She also said that, should they be allowed to resume concerts, the sound equipment will be set up by Marty’s employees.

Other abutters, however, were concerned that the Ruggieros didn’t have specific spelled out in their application for many of the concerns being raised. Though Nicole Ruggiero outlined procedures for a wristband system to ensure both drinking-age compliance and that only legitimate ticket holders were attending, those details should be spelled out as part of the application, argued a group of abutters through their attorney, Peter Nicosia.

Nicosia said that while the Ruggieros and their attorney, Alec MacMartin, argued that some of the points raised during the meeting – such as lighting or emergency management plans – were more appropriately addressed at the Site Plan Review stage with the Planning Board, the ZBA also has a statutory duty to examine safety and impact on the neighborhood before granting a special exception.

Ultimately, the board agreed with that assessment, instructing the Ruggieros to include supplemental filings, which include a safety and emergency plan, the plans for improvements to the stage to mitigate noise levels.

Nicosia also asked that the board vote to hold off on the discussion until a appeal of a vote at a Special Town Meeting in June. The June vote allows outdoor entertainment in the GRAF district by special exception, and is needed for the Ruggieros application. The board did not vote on that matter.