HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-16 Public Comment - S. Matolyak - Bozeman TaproomFrom:Matolyak, Shane
To:Agenda
Subject:Taproom Approval
Date:Tuesday, December 13, 2016 3:05:02 PM
Hi,
I’m writing to voice my support for allowing the Bozeman Taproom to be issued an all beverage
liquor license.
I do have concerns with the number of bars downtown. I have friends who live in south Bozeman
and have heard their accounts of drunk bar patrons entering their houses in the early morning hours
or driving into their (parked) cars. I also don’t like the way that downtown is shaping up to be a food
court sprinkled with a few places to buy expensive art and high-fashion clothing, and less and less of
the things many locals are willing to come into town during the day to browse or buy.
That said, it seems to me that the Taproom is being unfairly scrutinized and potentially handicapped
due to a perceived threat of impacts to the students of Hawthorne Elementary School. Based on
accounts described in the Bozeman Daily Chronical, my understanding is that the sole concern of
Taproom opponents is that children will see patrons drinking. I don’t believe this as a problem for
the following reasons;
- Most of the year when school is in session, the Taproom roof is unoccupied and the garage
doors are closed due to cold temperatures. The glare on the building’s windows is such that
I can’t easily tell how busy the place is when I drive by during lunch,
- Crowds are pretty thin at bars during the hours that elementary schools operate,
- A good teacher should identify students gazing out of school windows and redirect their
attention to the lessons at hand,
- Elementary school students won’t know that patrons are imbibing alcohol unless they are
informed of that by an adult. If parents/teachers want to coddle their kids in that way, it
should be easy to do,
- Most importantly, the suggestion that the mere observation of someone drinking a beer or
other beverage will negatively impact a child seems dubious. These children likely see
responsible drinking in television commercials and at home. They likely pass by other bars
on the way to and from school. I’m willing to bet that the Hawthorne School would not
produce a Tour De France winner even if Bangtail Bicycles had moved into the Taproom’s
space.
I can certainly understand keeping minors off of Main Street after 10pm when MSU students
descend on town but I don’t think a similar need exists during the early afternoon hours when
elementary schools are in session.
Thanks,
Shane Matolyak
304 Kimball Ave
Bozeman MT, 59718
406-581-3027