Big Sky Times

Dining al fresco in Butte and Silver Bow can allow people to take advantage of the few months of nice weather Montana gets during the summer.

While the concept sounds nice enough, sidewalk seating in Butte has created some controversy in the past because of fees associated with related permits. Now, though, as nice weather rolls in, it looks like commissioners and business owners are headed toward a resolution that will allow outdoor dining without burdening business owners. 

J.P. Gallagher, chief executive of the Butte-Silver Bow council of commissioners, said he’s willing to consider a suspension of permit fees associated with a town ordinance while leaders review the policy.

He wants officials “to see if it’s fair or if we need to make adjustments with that permit fee, so that local businesses can operate over the summer, without any kind of restriction other than following the ordinance, until we have further review,” according to a report from NBC Montana. 

Carrie Fisher, the owner of Pita Pit/Taco del Sol, has spoken out about the policy. She said she was told she would have to pay a $700 annual fee to have seating on the sidewalk because of an ordinance regarding parklets and pedlets.

Fisher said she plans to address the commissioners Wednesday night to get the request to suspend the permit fees on the record and allow for further input from the board and the public.

The issue came to a head after the commission authorized the Butte-Silver Bow to provide for enforcement of the ordinance. According to officials, the plan is to take action to ease the potential burden on small businesses. Gallagher said while the city-county commission reviews it, they should suspend all fees associated with the ordinance in question for the rest of the year.

“I think everyone wants to have chairs and tables on the sidewalks,” Commission Chair Shawn Fredrickson said ahead the meeting. “It looks nice. So we’re going to evaluate what the fees are and what they should be. We should have a pretty good discussion." 

Fisher said she is thankful her concerns were heard and she is glad for the opportunity to make her case more publicly.