Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if a license is denied, another license application for the same location may not be made for 6 months after the denial. This section does not apply to: an application for the transfer of a license; or a license application that is denied: because of a legal defect or omission; if the Board expressly states that the denial was directed solely against the applicant and not against the location described in the application; or if, after a hearing, the Board determines that another applicant is better qualified to be a license holder.