PORTLAND — The Portland City Council narrowly passed a measure to enact a 750-foot buffer between large music venues on Monday.
Live Nation New England proposed a 3,300-seat music venue across the street from Merrill Auditorium. Supporters of the buffer referenced a New York federal court jury decision two weeks ago that found Live Nation and Ticketmaster operate together as a monopoly.
The council first enacted a moratorium on theater and performance halls with a capacity exceeding than 2,000 people in August of last year, then extended it. Between August and now, the council brought forth the buffer measure, which could now prevent the venue’s development.
The council passed it 5-4, with councilors April Fournier, Benjamin Grant, Pious Ali, Wesley Pelletier and Anna Bullett voting in favor. Councilors Kate Sykes, Sarah Michniewicz, Regina Phillips and Mayor Mark Dion voted against the measure.
Opponents of the buffer claimed it was unfair to change the zoning rules after the development was cleared by the planning board. In fact, Planning Board Chair Joe Zamboni told councilors that the board did not think the buffer fit within Portland’s comprehensive plan.
And, restauranteurs downtown said the venue would bring more foot traffic, especially in the off-season when they’re in desperate need of business. Tom Barr, the owner and operator of two downtown restaurants — Taco Escobarr and Lazzari — told councilors a large music venue could help bring people into town, and therefore into restaurants during the cold months.
“During the off months for restaurants, the difference of something happening in town and something not happening in town is not a matter of a percentage,” Barr said. “It’s business by a factor.”
Supporters of the buffer said a large, corporate venue would endanger the smaller, local venues in town. And, many supporters worried that having two large music venues right next to each other would generate more traffic for an already crowded road outside City Hall. Forty people spoke in favor of the buffer on Monday.
Emilia Dahlin, a Portland musician, told councilors that the high ticket prices that Live Nation charges for its events are not affordable to many people in Portland. She argued that preventing Live Nation from doing business in the city is beneficial to those who attend live music events.
“If you know that the entity you are dealing with has just been found guilty in anti-trust laws by a federal jury, that’s not the kind of business that we want to do here in Portland,” Dahlin said.
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