Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a transfer of a license shall be completed on or before 180 days after the Board approves the transfer. Within 180 days after the Board approves the transfer of a license, the license holder or another appropriate interested party may make a written request to the Board to extend the time authorized to complete the transfer due to hardship. The Board may grant the extension if the Board finds after a hearing that an existing hardship caused the delay in transferring the license. An extension may not prolong the period authorized to complete the transfer beyond 270 days after the Board approves the transfer.