PORTLAND (WGME) — A proposed buffer that would determine the distance between large music venues is sparking controversy in Portland Wednesday night.
That buffer was rejected by Portland’s planning board, and now it’s in the hands of city councilors for a final vote. If they reject it, it could pave the way for a large music venue.
It all boils down to allowing Live Nation to build a large entertainment venue in downtown. If the buffer is rejected by the city council, it could allow the venue to be built. However, that company has faced scrutiny in the past, which has some upset they could damage Portland’s music scene all together.
A proposed buffer that would determine the distance between large music venues is sparking controversy in Portland Wednesday night. (WGME)
There’s a divide in Portland Wednesday night over the city’s planning board decision to reject a 750-foot buffer determining how close large music venues in downtown can be from each other.
Doug Kolmar is a local musician. He was happy to hear about the board’s decision, as it could also mean shutting down Live Nation’s plan to build an over 3,000-seat music venue in downtown, right next to Merrill Auditorium.
“I would be in favor of anything that kind of delays that or defeats it,” Kolmar said.
Live Nation, who owns Ticketmaster, has faced scrutiny in the pass from the DOJ for blocking competition and driving up ticket prices.
“Just generally being a bad actor within the music industry,” Maine Music Alliance Executive Director Scott Moeller said.
The Maine Music Alliance has organized the Portland music scene to oppose the project.
Moeller believes Live Nation could hurt Portland’s local artists.
A proposed buffer that would determine the distance between large music venues is sparking controversy in Portland Wednesday night. (WGME)
“We built it up into something that this giant corporation now wants their part of, and we’re just here to tell them that they can’t have it,” Moeller said.
Whether Live Nation has a presence in the city will be up to the Portland City Council, as they will have a final say on if the 750-foot buffer is put into place.
Mayor Mark Dion believes ultimately, Live Nation’s proposal will be approved.
“I think the opponents have blocked every single path to try and block construction,” Dion said.
One concern about the venue is parking and whether or not the city can accommodate it.
A proposed buffer that would determine the distance between large music venues is sparking controversy in Portland Wednesday night. (WGME)
But Portland’s director for urban and city development says congestion should not be an issue.
“There’s still adequate capacity for parking within our downtown to accommodate a variety of uses, not just theaters or performance halls,” Portland Urban and City Development Director Kevin Kraft said.
CBS13 reached out to Live Nation Wednesday, asking them if they feel this buffer is a threat to their proposal for Portland. We have not heard back.
The city council is set to vote on the buffer on April 27.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source wgme.com ’
