Saloonfest 2 Approval Recommended By Brookfield Plan Commission

BROOKFIELD, WI—The City of Brookfield Plan Commission recommended approval on Monday for a temporary use permit request by Dave Dayler, owner of The Saloon on Calhoun, to hold Saloonfest 2, a 10-day live music event, this summer. The conditions also included temporary parking signs and additional bathrooms for the events.

The proposal goes to the Common Council on Tuesday for final approval.

The event is slated for June 24 through July 3 at The Saloon on Calhoun, 17000 W. Capitol Drive. Live music will be performed both inside the venue and on an outdoor stage, according to city documents. (The first Saloonfest took place in 2020 inside the saloon and didn't require a permit.)

• Anticipated attendance is 200 to 800 each day.
• Parking is available in the saloon's lot and the adjoining property.
• The owner has an agreement with that property owner for overflow parking.
• Restrooms will be available in the main building, with three portable restrooms in the parking lot.
• A temporary fence will be placed around the stage area and the hill. Access to the area will come from the building only.
• The stage faces the hill to the southwest of the saloon and will be used as a seating area for customers.

Dayler spoke to the commission on Monday about the rift between government and private business.

"Obviously, as a restaurant and bar owner, we very much feel like we've been in the crosshairs, you know, every day, 24 hours a day, don't go to restaurants, don't go to bars. It has had a detrimental effect on our business," he said

Dayler said if it wasn't for live music, he would have been out of business during the pandemic. He said he has put all of his life savings into keeping his business going.

"I'm not only just emotionally invested, I'm financially invested," Dayler said.

Dayler said the staff are not trying to cause issues or bring trouble to the city. For the noise concerns he said:

"We have chosen that south part of our building with a hill. So people can bring out their blankets and they can set them up and have some space. But also because the sound is going to be coming from the air that's going to be flown and directed into that hill with very what's called line arrays, speakers, which direct the sound very specifically to an area," he said.

He added, "I don't know what's going to happen either. There are a lot of what ifs. I just believe in people I believe in freedom. I believe in fun and I believe in the power of rock and roll."