Zoning board approves live-entertainment conditional use for Highlandtown tavern on Eastern Avenue

The Baltimore City Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals on July 7 approved a conditional use allowing live entertainment at a tavern on Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown.

Justin Walker of the Department of Planning told the board the application (case 252013804) requests live entertainment as an accessory use in a C-1 zoning district and that planning recommends approval. Walker said the applicant proposed sound levels of 40 to 80 decibels between 11 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The applicant’s counsel, Melvin J. Cadensky, described a second-floor area that seats roughly 90 people, existing soundproofing and plans to provide security. “They plan to have [live entertainment] mainly on the weekends,” Cadensky said, and noted the applicant must also obtain liquor-board approval before operating.

A board member moved to adopt planning’s findings and the motion carried; the transcript records four yes votes and one recusal. Board members did not record a roll-call in the transcript; the written resolution the board prepares will memorialize the official vote and conditions.

Why it matters: granting a conditional use for live entertainment allows the tavern to compete with other nearby venues but triggers noise-management and liquor-licensing requirements that the board and liquor board will enforce.

The board’s vote at the hearing is preliminary; by law a written resolution must be drafted, reviewed and circulated. Justin Williams, interim executive director of the BMZA, said the resolution will be emailed to parties when available.