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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-27-17 Public Comment - K. Franklin- TapRoomEsteemed City Commissioners, As the parent of a kindergarten and 3rd grader attending Hawthorne school (and also a Pre-Kindergartner), I am concerned about the impact of a bar serving hard alcohol during school hours directly across the street from my children's school. Allowing a bar that serves hard alcohol during school hours within 100 feet and visible from both of my children's classroom windows is unacceptable. Please deny the Taproom's request to the City for a conditional use permit for a full beverage license. Approval of the CUP significantly alters the current use of the property—from a restaurant that serves beer/wine to a bar. Please also consider recommended modifications for business operation during school hours (below). Granting such a permit clearly is not in the best interest of the Hawthorne children or the Bozeman community. In previous letters and documents, I have outlined my concerns about social/emotional impacts on Hawthorne student development and factual data on alcohol versus beer/wine consumption in adults. I'd also like to assert that approval of this CUP (introduction of hard alcohol) alters the current use of the site, and will change the Taproom patron dynamics and impact the physical environment in/around the establishment. Thank you for your time and consideration-- I appreciate it. Feel free to contact me if you have questions, or would like to discuss any of this further. Sincerely, Katey T. Franklin, PhD, LCPC, NCC (406) 570-6056 The following are conditions which are necessary to protect the general health, welfare and safety of Hawthorne Elementary School children. Please refer to Chapter 38, No. 3 of Bozeman Municipal Code for the suggested, but not limited list of modifications the city may require for a CUP for conditions that are “deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare .” Here are some suggestions relating to several items on that list that should be required during the school year: a. Regulation of use. Use for the sale of hard alcohol was never an allowed use. It should be regulated to only during no-school hours, after 5:30 pm Monday through Friday and on weekends. b. Special yards, spaces and buffers- Visual buffers such as blinds over the bar windows should be required should be required during school hours, 8 am until 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. c. Dense screens and/or walls- A solid screen or wall should be constructed on the east side of the rooftop bar facing the school. j. Regulation of hours for certain activities- No alcohol should be served during school hours, Monday through Friday 8 am-5:30 pm.