IN A remarkable development at this afternoon’s regular meeting, City Council voted 8-1 to deny an alcoholic beverage license to the new West Savannah music venue The Stage On Bay, slated to hold its first concert tomorrow night, Feb. 3.
This evening The Stage On Bay announced the Friday night show has been moved to the Lucas Theatre for the Arts downtown, which will honor all previously purchased tickets.
Only Alderman Julian Miller voted to support The Stage On Bay liquor license, on the basis that the City has no legal standing to deny it – an opinion confirmed even by several other Council members who voted against the venue.
The hearing had been held over from two weeks prior to give owner/operator Charlie Schmitt time to meet with the Hudson Hill Neighborhood Association, many members of which are firmly opposed to the venue, citing parking problems and disruption caused by concertgoers.
While more neighborhood interaction took place in the meantime, it wasn’t enough to assuage the concerns of residents, who eventually swayed Mayor and Council to their side even though a possibly successful lawsuit against the City is nearly inevitable based largely on the fact that zoning currently permits such a usage.
Representing Stage On Bay, attorney Will Claiborne told Council that “There are no current alcohol licenses in the neighborhood comparable to this venue. All the others that people are talking about are convenience stores and one package store.”
Claiborne said the zoning already approves such a usage in the location, and “The City has zero objective data” to indicate there is any reason to interfere with the venue’s right to obtain such a license.
Claiborne went on to say that while “nobody wakes up in the morning wanting to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit,” if City Council denied the liquor license “there could then be a due process or takings violation resulting in court action.”
Most of City Council recognized on the record the legal dangers of denying the Stage On Bay liquor license – though it did come out in the meeting that the venue hadn’t even been granted a Certificate of Occupancy, meaning the Marshall Tucker Band concert could still have been in jeopardy in any case.
Alderman Tony Thomas said, “I feel for the residents of this area,” but “we are caught up in a very problematic issue. If we don’t allow this, the venue will file a case that the City took their right, and ability, and their investment from them. And either the City wins or the City loses.”
Schmitt and Claiborne have both said there has already been over half a million dollars invested into Stage On Bay to improve the former light industrial space.
Thomas said if a lawsuit happens, the City will essentially “be going to court against our own laws.”
Mayor Eddie DeLoach and AldermanThomas both stated concerns over the continuing lack of protocol involving alcoholic beverage licensing.
“The reason we’re in this situation today is because nothing has been done in the past,” said DeLoach.
Alderman Julian Miller, the only one to eventually vote to grant the license, said, “This Council has no legal standing to deny this.”
He went on to muse, “Alcohol matters really shouldn’t come before this body at all,” suggesting that an administrative officer position could be created to streamline the process.
Alderman Van Johnson, in whose district The Stage On Bay is located and who has spearheaded the effort to deny the license, said “This isn’t a matter of law. It’s a matter of courage.”
Johnson went on to taunt that if The Stage On Bay sues the City, “we have lawyers too.”
Johnson reiterated his previously stated position that The Stage On Bay owner should have tried to open the venue in the Historic District.
“This venue is a win/win somewhere else, but a lose/lose in this location,” said Johnson, widely considered to be mulling a mayoral run in the next City election.
Miller, in a veiled jab at Johnson said, “We’re a nation of laws,” and that “courage can be defined in different ways. Courage also means supporting the law when it’s not politically expedient to do so.”
However, as several neighborhood leaders took to the podium to address Council stating their opposition to the venue’s liquor license, most City Council members did an about-face from what they’d just said.
Just before the vote was taken, Thomas said he would vote against the venue even though he knew the City would be taken to court. He also urged Schmitt to consider moving The Stage On Bay to a different location. He did so without mentioning all the investment that had already been made.
Alderman At Large Brian Foster, who had also previously said there was little standing to deny the license, stated before the vote that nonetheless he would also “support Van” and vote to deny it.
This article appears in Feb 1-7, 2017.
Ridiculous. All the way around. 1. Company to disregard surrounding community. 2. And the leaders to not help to a facilitate a more reasonable conclusion to seek investment in the area. Our government is about compromise. Not a dictatorship of hipocracy, whereas they misconstrue the term democracy. 3. Those of whom are educated in the field of public administration no better; one must separate duty and politics to maintain proper bureaucratic oath for the buraracracy. Council is tormenting themselves, and the populist movement will likely come around and replace those that violate the interest of the public good, when the polity is severely underserved.
Ridiculous. All the way around. 1. Company to disregard surrounding community. 2. And the leaders to not help to a facilitate a more reasonable conclusion to seek investment in the area. Our government is about compromise. Not a dictatorship of hipocracy, whereas they misconstrue the term democracy. 3. Those of whom are educated in the field of public administration know* better; one must separate duty and politics to maintain proper bureaucratic oath for the buraracracy. Council is tormenting themselves, and the populist movement will likely come around and replace those that violate the interest of the public good, when the polity is severely underserved.
With due respect, when the record is fully disclosed, it will show multiple attempts at outreach (voicemail and e-mail) to the Hudson Hill Neighborhood Association, the City Council, and the Mayor’s Office, beginning in November of 2016, all of which — with the exception of a kind response from Alderman Miller — went wholly without response. And our communication with other sectors of Savannah City Government date back to August and are frequent and vibrant. We did not “disregard” the surrounding community or Savannah’s City Government, notwithstanding the implications of others. We appreciate your other sentiment, and are merely disappointed we were not more aggressive in showcasing our record of communications, or the improvements we’ve made to the building and neighborhood already. That will all now likely occur in discovery, which is a shame for all, most notably Savannah’s music fans.
SAVANNAH ARTIST WAKE UP!!! A 1000 SEAT CONCERT VENUE WAS OPENING ON BAY ST. THE NAME OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT IS THE STAGE ON BAY. LOCATED IN THE HUDSON HILL AREA. THE OWNER WAS SUPPORTING LOCAL TALENT. THE CITY REFUSED THE OWNER A LIQUOR LICENSE BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO BRING THAT QUALITY OF VENUE TO THAT AREA…. PLEASE WAKE UP!!!! WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LET THEM KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN POVERTY. AN ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT MAGNITUDE NOT ONLY IS THE BEGINNING OF THE MUSIC SCENE THAT HAS LONG BEEN MISSED BUT MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY. CITY HALL IS BLOCKING AND DESTROYING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND GIVING IT TO SCAD!!!! WHY????THE OWNER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT ALREADY HAS SPENT $600,000 INTO THE ESTABLISHMENT. PLEASE SPEAK UP OR WE AINT GOING TO NEVER HAVE NOTHING. EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SPENDING MONEY AND FOLLOWING THEIR RULES
THE CITY IS DENYING A MILLION DOLLAR CONCERT HALL FACILITY A LIQUOR LICENSE. THEREFORE CRIPPLING THE BUSINESS BEFORE IT STARTS…
A MILLION DOLLAR CONCERT HALL WAS BEING BUILT ON BAY STREET BY HUDSON HILL. THIS ESTABLISHMENT WAS GEARED TO BUILDING A MUSIC SCENE IN SAVANNAH. GIVING LOCAL ARTISTS A PLATFORM TO INVITE THEIR FANS TO A PROFESSIONAL SHOW. THIS WILL HELP THE ARTIST BUSINESS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS, AND THERE FOR FORCING THE CITY TO PUT MUCH NEEDED FUNDS IN THAT AREA. BUT IN THERE ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE AREA IN SUCH A POOR MANNER, THEY WILL NOT LET AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNER HELP THE ECONOMY IN OUR AREA.
Work on this venue began in February, 2016, but the Neighborhood Associations were not contacted until December??? This is “good faith?” This venue is not appropriate in a “neighborhood” where families live! The building didn’t have a “Certificate of Occupancy”, so it couldn’t legally operate anyway….This community is tired of outside people coming in and trying to tell them what is “good” for them!!! The residents do care about their community- it has been a lack of city support that has caused the community to deteriorate. Mr. Schmitt was presumptuous. However, taking risks is the price for doing business. While the venue fills a void, West Savannah is not the place for it!!
Don’t think this business will stay around even if they get the liquor license. They screwed many people in the Binghamton area with their last concert hall.
If they claim they spent that much money, ask to see the proof. They said the same thing here
Hope the town holds fast with their decision.
Gotta love karma
The man at the microphone in the photo is Charles Brown. He lives in the neighborhood that was protesting the opening of The Stage on Bay. This gentleman stood up and spoke to City Council, pointing out that he had never been to a city council meeting before and that City Hall was a beautiful building. He then looked straight at Tony Thomas, who up till then had been talking at great length about how he knows so many people in the neighborhood. Charles Brown leaned forward into the microphone, looked straight at Tony and told him for all to hear that Tony had never met him and that he lives in the neighborhood in a house that was left to him and his siblings by his grandmother. Charles Brown pointed out he just started working for The Stage On Bay in the position of Community Outreach Director. Charles then gestured to another young man in the crowd of supporters, sharing with everyone present that this young man was a graduate from Savannah State with an electrical degree. He went on to share how this man had been unable to find work in his field, yet he was now working for The Stage On Bay doing electrical work. Charles was pointing out the job opportunities, pointing out the potential and the City Council ignored it, as did the neighborhood association elders that showed up to protest. This man along with the other young black men that showed their support by being at the meeting were given the stink eye by these elders, as well as by some on the City Council. I also found it interesting that these young men, who had never shown up to City Council before, were even reprimanded by one neighborhood protester for not being active in their neighborhood association. From the words of the protesters, I came to understand that they had absolutely zero faith in the future potential for their community. I heard from one protester after another that this venue would lead to drinking, drugs and lawlessness – but not from the people purchasing the tickets. No, this behavior was going to come from the neighborhood residents. Yet no one on City Council seemed to take notice that the business, The Stage on Bay, had already made positive changes in this very same neighborhood. Because not only did this man at the microphone have a job with this new business but his roll was one that would put him in front of his community, his neighbors and friends. He would have been able to learn from the ground up how to bring his community together, how to troubleshoot and manage situations that can be complex. Charles Brown made a huge step yesterday – he stood up and shared his opinion by speaking for the first time in front of City Council. He shared how he had already paid it forward with additional employees at the venue. I wonder what he took away from this hearing? Because I know what I learned. I learned by the City Councils words and actions that its permissible to not follow the law. I learned from Van Johnson that the council members were being courageous by voting against a liquor license that should have been approved. I learned that our City Council doesnt understand the ramifications and business precedents they set for the entire city of Savannah. And I learned that they really dont understand how to bring communities together, to find ways to keep jobs intact and make real relationships with businesses. Charles Brown understands how to pay it forward to help his community grow and prosper, he was in the position to do it in his own neighborhood. Now he is just unemployed.
To the individual who posted as “close the stage,” if you are going to defame us as you did with totally baseless accusations, you should at least sign your name. And to the individual who alleged work began in February 2016, we did not even sign our Lease until August of 2016, and only after we confirmed with City Officials our zoning and parking regulations. We conferred with the Neighborhood Associations when asked to by the City as a part of the Liquor License Application, the 2017 Application for which was not available to us from the City until Tuesday, 12/13/16 — parenthetically, there is no requirement in the actual Statute for any such consultation. It is regrettable for all concerned.
I hope City Council is ready to fork over some cash. So dumb if their OWN attorney advised what they were doing was illegal. and still refused his advice. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKS CLOWNS. Anybody taken a drive through the West side lately??? IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL and SAFE. If I were resident and had any sense I would be more concerned on THE WIDESPREAD CRIMINAL ACTIVITY in the area. West Savannah is a GHETTO. They did this guy a favor…..
This entire situation is absolutely absurd. Stage on Bay was zoned light industrial and had every right to be in that area according to any zoning requirements. The homes in that area are in “light industrial D1” NOT a residentially zoned area. If this is going to continue to be an issue for all future businesses they need to rezone it. Otherwise, they can’t arbitrarily tell someone “no” just because they don’t like it.
In addition, contacting the neighborhoods is a courtesy, not a requirement by law. Stage on bay made many attempts to contact these neighborhood associations and has this documented. You can’t force people to answer their phone calls or emails. Regardless, there is no legal standing to deny a permit based on how a neighborhood feels when the business is properly zoned and follows all of the other requirements of the city, state, and federal government. I mean, are we forgetting Scores, the strip club, right down the street in the same area? People may not like it, but they are properly zoned, had thier paperwork in order, and have the right to be there. Also, is the city going to deny itself and alcohol permit under these same stipulations and concerns for their music venue they’re putting in right down the road? In an area that is zoned exactly as stage on Bay was and is in the exact same neighborhood? A venue that will be 10 times the size with significantly louder music output, traffic, and overall effect on the neighborhood. I highly doubt it.
Now, we as taxpayers of Savannah, get to foot the bill for this lawsuit that should not even be happening in the first place.
Van Johnson didn’t get his palm greased so he got the rest of the city council prosties to vote against something legal.
what an utter disgrace.