Baltimore City restaurants will soon be able to add another item to their menu --
live entertainment. The City Council voted to approve a targeted expansion of "responsible live entertainment for restaurants and taverns" in neighborhood business districts. The expansion comes after some 30 years of periodic attempts by the City Council to "enact measures to increase live entertainment venues to support Baltimore's arts community and to enrich city nightlife."
The live entertainment bill, sponsored by City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, would allow restaurants and taverns in zoned B-1, B-2 business districts to obtain a live entertainment permit through the city zoning board and state liquor board. The new law demands, however, that certain conditions be considered before granting zoning approval, including traffic, sanitation, security, and noise mitigation.
"I would like to personally thank my Council colleagues and community groups for working with me to complete this legislation, which will help Baltimore become an arts and entertainment destination for citizens and visitors alike," Rawlings-Blake saiys. "Baltimore always had the raw artistic talent to draw visitors, but too often, antiquated zoning rules got in the way. This legislation will change that and will allow Baltimore's cultural community to flourish."
Introduced in July 2008, the legislation was accompanied by an unprecedented level of public involvement and transparency at every stage of the legislative process. In response to concerns from city residents, the Council took steps to address potential issues in the legislation.
The entertainment bill was approved in conjunction with two bills that provide additional community safeguards. The first authorizes the City Health Department to suspend or deny the renewal of a license for a food service facility that has received multiple environmental or civil citations. The health legislation ensures that operators are held accountable for repeated flagrant violations. The other bill, cosponsored with Councilwoman Rikki Spector (District-5) allows the Board of Municipal Zoning Appeals (BMZA) to suspend or revoke a conditional use permit for failure to comply with the conditions imposed by the board.
"I believe that we have done everything possible to create strong neighborhood safeguards to complement this targeted expansion of live entertainment. The process has been open and transparent�and now we have a bill that addresses the issues that were raised by stakeholders throughout the legislative process," Rawlings-Blake said.
Source: Stephanie Rawlings - Blake, Baltimore City Council
Writer: Walaika Haskins