Being a community member, county worker, and someone with family still residing in our cherished neighborhood, I deeply grasp the complexity of community growth and neighborhood preservation. The permit of special use under BSBMC 17.38.180 poses a significant threat to the peaceful residential aura that Butte residents have long enjoyed and rightfully deserve. The Constitution of Montana guarantees every citizen the right to peaceful enjoyment, and this change violates this fundamental right.

The area designated as an R-2 residential zone for years hosts only a handful of mixed-use buildings. These include a largely vacant, recently sold and in transition parking garage, a low-impact storage unit business, and the Helsinki Bar—a long-standing business grandfathered into this zone. Remarkably, even during its operational periods, the parking garage had minimal impact on our neighborhood's tranquility. The storage unit business remains low impact. While the Helsinki Bar already strains the neighborhood with noise and parking issues, its owners actively work to alleviate these concerns during their events. 

The prospect of increased traffic, noise, and the burden on existing, fragile infrastructure due to the new proposal is alarming. Broadway Street already suffers from sinkholes and erosion issues. The limited parking capacity stands to force residents from parking near their homes. An outdoor venue will exacerbate these issues, compounding the need for sanitary facilities and safety evaluations.

As it stands, no clear logistics plans have been furnished. The lack of noise and open container laws in the county currently only adds to the complexity of preserving the sanctity of our neighborhood. Additionally, property values—a crucial factor for families investing in long-term residencies—are at risk of plummeting. No neighborhood impact study has been conducted to assess these potential ramifications.

Butte already has a multitude of venues and musical events. The neighborhood was willing to consider a business similar to the Broadway Cafe or Ippity Bop be grandfathered into a residential zone, however any performance venue will have a profoundly larger impact on residents.  

The introduction of this permit not only endangers our community’s peace but also infringes upon the rights of Montana citizens. It presents numerous logistical challenges that must be addressed before drastic irreversible changes happen. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to preserve the integrity of Butte neighborhoods.

Please join me in opposing this proposal and safeguarding our community’s future. Your voice matters! Please sign this petition to help protect our beloved neighborhood.