Dear City of Kirkland,
This letter is regarding the Chainline Brewing Company microbrewery liquor and business license application for 503 6th Street S, Kirkland, WA 98033.
I am a concerned parent of a dancer at the International Ballet Academy (IBA) located next door to the proposed microbrewery, and writing this letter in objection to the above-mentioned business being able to be licensed for alcohol and located at the address above.
IBA is a premier dance academy which attracts students from the entire Eastside and the greater Seattle area. The Academy feeds into the International Ballet Theatre, which performs 4-5 productions each year at the Meydenbauer Center and will also perform at the Kirkland Performance Center.
The IBA is situated in a building complex which houses a number of other youth-oriented activities. Located next to the IBA is the Kirkland Music Academy which is busy during the same hours. Also in the complex is the AMC Kickboxing gym, busy during the same hours - afternoon and into the evening. The IBA has a constant flow of young children and youth. The company operates six days a week. During productions it is open seven days a week for rehearsals. Many of the dancers practice 6-9 hours a day not leaving the studio until well after dark. Next door to the IBA is the Kirkland Music Academy which also has a continual flow of young children and youth. Finally, at the end of the business complex is a gym also attracting many young students. These students are often in the parking lot working out, running the entire length of the lot, or performing various crossfit activities outdoors.
The sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises will lead to increased risk to the children at the International Ballet Academy, Kirkland Music Academy, and AMC gym due to poor driving and impaired judgment of those consuming alcohol.
Our objections are:
1. There is insufficient parking for the retail use planned. The parking lot at this business complex is extremely congested during our busy hours of 3:30-9:30p. Traffic down 6th parking lot which has only two entrances and is already often full to capacity with the current business. In addition to the traffic impact of this type of business, many parents are already forced to drop their students off near the entrance which leaves the children to navigate their way to the appropriate facility through congested parking lot. Because this complex targets children/youth activities, most parents entering the parking lot know to be extremely cautious.
2. The addition of a brewery and the customers it would attract creates unnecessary risk to our children in the parking lot. Obtaining a liquor license infers that alcohol will be consumed on the premise. Therefore, many of the patrons of the brewery will be driving drunk or under the influence. This creates an avoidable risk to all students entering and leaving this facility.
3. I am also concerned about the consumption of alcohol near our youth. In addition to intoxication around our children being inappropriate, many of the girls dance 6-9 hours a day. The girls often take breaks on the front patio, just steps from the brewery, and walk to and from their cars before and after dance classes. These are girls becoming shapely young women in form fitting leotards and tights. Alcohol added to this equation creates a huge risk to these young women. One of the great attractions of the International Ballet Academy is that present feeling of safety and security. The brewery creates a huge safety issue with adult males that are either drunk or under the influence.
Finally, it is our understanding that the business park where the Chainline Brewery is located is zoned industrial. We do understand that a microbrewery may fall into this category, however, this area is not designated for a tavern. How is a "tasting room" different from any establishment that serves hard alcohol?
The International Ballet Academy provides beautiful art to Kirkland and the Eastside and is a huge asset to the community, attracting dancers and their families that feed our local economy from as far away as Tacoma and from Seattle proper, every night.
I know the Kirkland City Council supports youth. I hope you will carefully reconsider your approval of this location. We are also approaching the liquor control board and objecting to the license. To you, City of Kirkland, we object to the approval of this location for this purpose. Thank you for helping to keep the City of Kirkland safe for our youth and our families.
