Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section: if a license application is denied, the Board may not issue a license for the same location for 1 year after the denial; and if a subsequent application for the same location is denied, the Board may not issue a license for that location for 2 years after the second denial. This section does not apply to a license application that is denied: because of a legal defect or omission; solely because the Board determined expressly that the applicant is not a proper person to whom the licensed applied for should be issued; or for license transfers.