A request for withdrawal of any application may be made at any time prior to final action upon the application by the chief by the filing of a written request to withdraw with the department. For the purposes of this section, final action by the department means a final determination by the chief regarding his or her recommendation on the application to the commission. The commission shall not grant the request unless the applicant has established that withdrawal of the application would be consistent with the public interest and the policies of this chapter. If a request for withdrawal is denied, the department may go forward with its investigation and make a recommendation to the commission upon the application, and the commission may act upon the application as if no request for withdrawal had been made. If
a request for withdrawal is granted with prejudice, the applicant thereafter shall be ineligible to renew its application until the expiration of one year from the date of the withdrawal. Unless the commission otherwise directs, no fee or other payment relating to any application is refundable by reason of withdrawal of an application.