<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Dear Neighbors:<BR>
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The Baltimore Sun at http://www.baltimoresun.com is conducting a Poll of readers on whether Sheila Dixon should sign or veto the Live Entertainment Bill passed by the City Council on 10/26/2009 expanding the use of live music in bars and restaurants near certain Residential Areas. Or you can send your comments to the Mayor c/o Kristy Taylor at <A HREF="mailto:Kristy.Taylor@baltimorecity.gov">Kristy.Taylor@baltimorecity.gov</A> <BR>
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The CVCA Board opposed the Bill on Second Reader back in May because it failed to provide a licensing structure for the use that could be closely monitored by the City. Once again the CVCA Land Use Committee is recommending to the CVCA Board that it send a letter to the Mayor asking her to veto the Bill as passed, even with the companion bills which were introduced to make the bill stronger. If the CVCA Board approves this letter, and it looks like it will, the letter will be sent to the Mayor on behalf of the CVCA.<BR>
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Right now the vote online is 73% in favor of the Bill and 23% against. Please add your vote to the mix. Who knows how many non-city residents have been voting.<BR>
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A summary of the Land Use Committee's proposed letter is as follows:<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0080ff" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">After careful consideration by its Land Use Committee and Board of Directors, the Charles Village Civic Association ("CVCA") opposes City Council Bill 08-0163, the Live Entertainment Bill. This Bill is a disappointing solution to the initial goal of balancing the desire to expand live entertainment venues in neighborhood business districts with providing sufficient enforcement mechanisms to ensure that these establishments are good neighbors to the nearby residential districts. <BR>
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Adding live entertainment as a conditional use to B1 and B2 zoning areas is an insufficient attempt at striking the necessary balance between the interests of businesses and their surrounding residential communities. The Bill creates a burden on the communities to make and pursue complaints against unruly establishments instead of providing a licensing system to regularly monitor these establishments. The two companion bills, which were passed by the City Council in an effort to reduce this burden, do not go far enough to protect the community. <BR>
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Currently in hearings before the BMZA, our community volunteers are forced to spend hours waiting to oppose zoning applications for changes in our neighborhoods that are pushed forward by the applicants with little advance notice to the community. We are very concerned about the possibility that Live Entertainment applications will be added to that hearing list.<BR>
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CVCA continues to support the creation of a licensing system for live entertainment venues in the City and not the abandonment of the idea. We appreciate the difficulties encountered during the lengthy legislative process. We ask you to veto City Council Bill #08-0163 so that the City Council can continue to consider a Live Entertainment licensing system that would enliven Baltimore as a creative and fun place to live and visit while protecting its residents.<BR>
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Here is the article on the subject of Live Entertainment from Tuesday's paper.<BR>
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City Council approves live-entertainment bill <BR>
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Bands, singers could perform at trendy bars, restaurants<BR>
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By Annie Linskey | annie.linskey@baltsun.com<BR>
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October 27 2009<BR>
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The Baltimore City Council voted Monday to allow bars and restaurants in some of the city's trendiest neighborhoods to hire bands, singers and other performers, overturning a decades-old prohibition that City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake says has stifled nightlife in town. <BR>
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The complete article can be viewed at:<BR>
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci.live27oct27,0,4607385.story <BR>
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Sharon L. Guida, Chair, CVCA Land Use Committee<BR>
2746 Maryland Avenue<BR>
Baltimore, MD 21218<BR>
410-889-0436 (home)<BR>
410-467-4409 (work)<BR>
410-467-4410 (work fax)<BR>
410-960-1139 (cell)<BR>
SLG2700@cs.com </FONT></HTML>