14.7.1 Purpose and intent. The purpose for this section is to establish permit requirements, allowable time frames, and submittal requirements for four recognized types of events. These provisions are intended to address potential significant negative impacts to public or private properties from events or event-related activities, not to prevent such activities from occurring or to unduly restrict private events.
14.7.2. Types of events.
A. Community center events, public and private. Community centers are locations or facilities where members of a community may gather for group and club activities, social activities, information meetings, educational activities, recreational activities, special events, and other purposes. They are often facilities that community members (and sometimes others), can rent for a function or event. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialized group within the greater community. Examples of groups that use community centers include youth groups, seniors, specific religious groups, and the like. Community centers may be municipally owned (public facilities) or privately owned. Parks and recreational centers/facilities are considered community centers. The typical mission of community centers is to provide a facility for programs that meet the served community needs, enhance the quality of life, and promote community involvement through the provision of a venue for recreation, cultural activities, education, health, wellness, and fitness activities, as well as family life activities. Gymnasiums, ceramic rooms, meeting rooms, kitchens, multipurpose activity rooms, weight/fitness rooms, pre-school rooms, and restrooms are often found in community centers. Outdoor amenities are often included in community centers (e.g., play equipment, athletic fields, multipurpose courts, and parks). Municipally owned community centers are duly chartered for such activities and are exempt from temporary use permit requirements. The town’s Community Center is an example of a municipally owned facility. Privately owned community centers approved by the town and conforming to the requirements of this UDO are also exempt from temporary use permit requirements for activities within the boundaries of the approved charter and facilities.
B. Town-recognized event. A town-recognized event is one that is in part or wholly sponsored by the town, recognized by the town, or proclaimed as a town-recognized event by the Town Council.
C. Not-for-profit event. A not-for-profit event is any event that is requested by, or held for, a recognized non-profit organization or other charitable organization.
D. Special events. Special events are any organized event, specifically including, but not limited to, a temporary sales event accessory to a principal use, or a circus, carnival, cultural event, fair, celebration, communal camping, groundbreaking, grand opening, religious service, musical, or other show, which reasonably may be expected to attract 100 or more persons, but which do not meet the criteria of a town-recognized event or a not-for-profit event.
E. Private events. Private events are any organized events which are not open to members of the general public, typically has a duration of less than 12 hours, and which is not expected to have significant negative impacts on surrounding properties. Examples of such events include, but are not limited to wedding ceremonies, funerals, private parties, or other similar gatherings. Events that take place in such venues as privately owned and managed clubs, lodges, churches, gathering areas, sports facilities, and the like that may be open to both members and non-members are exempt from temporary use permit requirements, but are subject to meeting the facility conditions set forth in Article 8.
F. POA/HOA events. Events that take place entirely within the boundaries of a parcel or possess sites and/or subdivision plans approval for such activities (e.g., assembly halls, convention centers, amphitheaters, or event centers) are exempt from temporary use permit requirements but must meet the facility conditions set forth in Article 8.
14.7.3 No permit required.
A. The following types of events do not need to obtain temporary use permits, but may be subject to the maximum allowable time frames, temporary signage requirements, and specific regulations as listed in Table 14.8:
1. Athletic events held at approved sports facilities;
2. Temporary not-for-profit car washes held on developed sites;
3. Garage and/or yard sales;
4. Block parties occurring entirely upon the grounds of a private residence, grounds privately owned by institutions (e.g., streets and parks owned by an HOA, POA, and the like), or common area of a multi-family residential development;
5. Other events with 99 people or fewer in attendance;
6. Private events on privately owned property, including privately owned streets, parks, and the like, administered by an HOA/POA; and
7. Events that occur or take place entirely within the boundaries of a parcel or parcels that possess site and/or subdivision plan approval for such activities (e.g., assembly halls, convention centers, amphitheaters, parks, community/recreation centers, or event centers).
14.7.4 Permit required.
A. Special events. Special events or not-for-profit events shall require a temporary use permit obtained in accordance with this section and the procedures of this Article, unless otherwise exempted in Article 14.7.2 through Article 14.7.3.
B. Application for permit. Any application to hold a special event or not-for-profit event shall be made in advance of the event.
C. Organization representation. A permit to hold a special event or not-for-profit event issued to one person or organization shall permit any person to engage in any lawful activity in connection with the holding of the permitted assembly.
D. Term of approval/permit. The maximum allowable time frame for all allowable events is addressed in this Article of the UDO. The UDO Administrator may extend the consecutive day limit or the annual limit upon approval of a written request for such an extension, for good cause shown.
E. Additional planning requirements. In addition to meeting the general standards of § 14.8, all not-for-profit and special events shall also meet the planning requirements set forth below. The UDO Administrator shall be responsible for determining the adequacy of submitted plans.
1. An adequate plan for security and safety shall be implemented on and around the site of the event, including sufficient staffing, provision for pedestrian safety, restroom facilities (if necessary), and traffic routing.
2. An adequate plan for public health, safety, and welfare on, around, and outside the site of the event shall be implemented, including a showing that the event will not likely cause interference with the movement of emergency vehicles to such an extent that adequate police, fire, or other emergency services cannot be provided throughout the town and will not likely cause unreasonable or unwarranted disruption to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
F. Submittal requirements. All applications for special and not-for-profit events shall include such information and supporting materials as are required by the UDO Administrator, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:
1. A description of the proposed event, including the event’s starting date and time, the event’s ending date and time, the date and time preparatory activities will commence, and the date and time of completed post-event clean-up;
2. The location of the property (properties) upon which the proposed event will take place;
3. A security plan, if requested; and
4. A parking plan.