My only experience with Caf� Bicko is driving by it, so I can�t comment on whether or not this particular restaurant should or shouldn�t be granted a new liquor license, but Kris Musser�s post exemplifies some NIMBYism that I don�t want to go unchecked.
Local businesses need to be good neighbors and the neighborhood folks should certainly contact the city council, attend the public hearing and make their concerns known, but I hope it�s done in the context of good Urbanism and not bad NIMBYISM. PARKING: We choose to live near areas like 45th and France because of its friendly urban environment, where we can easily walk to places like Brueggers, Convention Grill, Caribou, Mr. Movies, Turtle Bread, etc. Unless we want to ruin the friendly environment by creating a sea of parking lots, we have to accept that business patrons and employees are going to park on our residential streets. An example of it working: Some residents near 50th and Penn fought Broder�s request for a beer and wine license, citing concerns about increased traffic, noisy drunks and parking on the adjacent residential streets. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and (to my knowledge) parking is no worse than before and there haven�t been any problems since the restaurant got its license. An example of it not working: CARAG residents living between 31st and 32nd near Calhoun Square convinced the city to ban non-resident parking on their blocks, which simply pushed their share of the parking onto other blocks in the neighborhood. MUSIC: Who knows, the majority of people in the neighborhood might actually like to go hear live music without getting in the car. Music is a good thing; loud music that keeps the neighbors up at night is not. SUGGESTIONS: 1. Start with the assumption that this can work for the residents and the restaurant, but build in as many checks and balances as possible. 2. Accept that parking is going to spill onto residential streets with or without new license. 3. Find out if having live music also requires a conditional use permit. (It should, but I'm sure someone on this list can give you a definitive answer.) If so, use the use permit process to establish hours and frequency of live music. 4. Licenses and permits are reviewed on a regular basis. Assuming licenses/permits are approved, make sure they are reviewed within a shortest possible time-frame initially so that if major problems arise the licenses/permits can be quickly revoked. John Rocker Calhoun _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
