At the end of a lengthy hearing on April 8, though, the hearing officer, Kimberly Chandler, issued this recommendation: "Having considered the evidence described above, it is concluded by the weight thereof that the Applicant has sustained its burden to show that there is a need for the applied-for hotel and restaurant liquor license at the establishment known and designated as The Matador, 3496 West 32nd Avenue, Denver, Colorado, 80211, to meet the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood; and, that the inhabitants of the designated neighborhood desire that this license issue. IT IS RECOMMENDED that the license application be approved."
Tom Downey, the director of the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, got more than two dozen objections to that recommendation, as well as a response to those objections from the applicant, Mat-Denver. And on April 30, he issued a final decision noting that he found no legal grounds for overturning the hearing officer's recommendation -- but also encouraged the restaurant's owners, neighbors and residents groups to "continue working together."
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