HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Carole Gabrielson
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No. 7498 P. 2
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AprlllS, 2007
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APR 1 B 2007
City Cle1;k
Meridian Planning 8I1d ZoDing C","",hl~ioners
33 E. Idaho
Meridian. Idaho 83642
Cit,i' Of M0J:1:di&..lJ
(}it'Y CJ~rk Office'
Via tacsimUe to 888-4128
and 8nt class mail
Re: Busted Shovel CUP
Dear Commissioners~
I urge your deDt81 of the :Busted ShOvel CUP application. I am an office manager
fin a local business located on North Main Stree~ in the immediate vicinity of the Busted
Shovel. The Busted Shovel baa heeome just UlOther bar, with all the problems associated
with a plaoe where people 80 to primarily drink. The Busted Shovel moved inTD The
space previously ocoupiod by Hatty"s Bar and Orin. Hany's was always ooDC8med
about the appearanee ofthoir establishment and. had :finished scvcral upgrades to both the
interior and exterior of the buildt~. They were ttyiDg 10 appeal more to the business
people iD the area. who wanted to come in and ha.vo a meal aDd. .. few driDb. Harry's did
a good job of cleaning the area around other businessell and they wete a good neighbor. I
cau"' say the same for the Busted Shovel. Since their business has ~ the ttash
arowd. QUi business has increased - we see more broken bottles and more cigarette butts
dumped onto the sidewalks and parking areas. We have a. serious parking problem and
tlw has been aggravated as well. We arc getting a. lot more vehicles and motorcycIas
coming into our area and some of these people cause problems for those of us who have
to park in this area on a daily basil. There has been sevem.l times when 1 have had to
eAter my vehicle from the p8.SSCDltr side because someone baa parked so close to my car
mat I couldn't enter on the driver"s side. Just a few Dights ago~ I had to enter On the
passenger side because the person next to me hIId two'pit bull doss in tho car and had laft
the wmdows rolled down to where the dogs could extend their beads out of the window.
Gzoaz1tod. lhese people may t.1Ot have been patroDS of the Busted Shovel, but I do know
that they were patrons ot one of the three bars in tha area.
When we moved our business to Main S1reet. we bew that there were three bfD'S in
the area. We were aW8te of the problems assoeiated with these type of businesses.
We've never complained about any of this because these businesses were here before us.
I catl say the same of the Blated Shovel. They should have been fully aware ofthc area
into which they Wete moving and the restrictions associated with it. I do not believe that
another bar is what We need for this area. I have been reading the articles in The
StatrClWtl1U'l about tW: plau.s for this area. I don't tbiDk that another bar fits in very well
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No. 7498 P. 3
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with the idea of a pedestrian friendly area. You have \W patrons sitting On the sidewalk
when you're trying to pasa by. The noise has definjtely iDcrcased since the Busted
Shovel opened its doors. The biker crowd frequents the bar and some of their
motore:yeles are very Joud_ My office faces Main Street and is on the second stoIy of our
building. There have been sC'Veral evenmgs when I have had 10 go into one of Out baclc
offi.c:es to talk to clients because of the noise, AU of this) along with the increase Of trash
in the surrounding area, does >>.othins to add to a positive doWJJ1OWA image.
Another HP"t that Deeds to be considered is the fact that we have a. Boys and Girls
Club in close proximity to tho Busted Shovel. 1 think you would have no trouble
agreeing that a bar is not the type of establishment you. want close to our neighborhood
children.
In ooDCluaion. I respeCtfully urge that you. give serious consideration to this matter
and deny this CUP application. Those ofm who live and work in Meridian share in the
vision of a viable and vibrant downtown area. Adding another bar does nothing to further
this'Vision. In fact. it will add to the further deterioration of this immediate area.
Sincerely, .
CQJU)\o ~~~'"
Carolo Gabrielson
Co: Mayor DeWeerd