Agenda - 12-02-1996 - 14a - Laserfiche WebLink

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17 specific need,and does not utilize the opportunity to address a wider range of possible uses,such as events which may occur less frequently but will attract more people. For example, in 1993 the Planning Staff received an inquiry from a group interested in holding an arts and crafts-oriented Renaissance Festival for a one-week period each year. A formal request was never made due to the lack of specific provisions in the Zoning Ordinance to provide for such a use. The potential applicants considered proposing an ordinance amendment at that time,but chose instead to look elsewhere for a site. The Planning Staff recommends that if it is the desire of the Planning Board to narrowly define the temporary events special use permit category so that larger commercial events could not be considered,that the Planning Board recommend approval of the proposed amendment as revised by the applicant with the following exceptions and additions: 1. that the Site Plan be drawn to scale,as required in Article 14 of the Zoning Ordinance;and 2. that the definition of Temporary Event be expanded to explicitly exclude events of a personal,institutional or non-profit nature,as well as all events attracting no more than 20 people. Barrows expressed concern with the number of people,it is not known how many would attend. Another concern is that this seems to address the Tripodi's problem but eliminates many others that should be addressed by such an amendment. She also had the same concern as Commissioner Gordon in having this in a residential district. Willis responded that,in any case,it would require the Special Use Permit approval process which requires that all the property owners are notified. There are some uses that would not be appropriate and findings must be met. It would be on a case by case basis. Strayhorn asked what would happen at this point in time if someone chose to have such an event and did not make the request of the Planning Department. How would it be prevented. Willis responded that many things are done in violation of the ordinance and are only discovered when a complaint is made and an activity is then monitored by the Planning Department. The Tripodi's came to the Planning Department to ask if they could have such an activity and the answer was no so they pursued an ordinance amendment. Brooks asked if the category could be broadened by having Special Use Permit, small,medium and large. Willis responded that there had been efforts to have a small and large by having less than 300 and more than 300 categories. Price asked if reunions would be required to have a permit. Willis responded if the Tripodis were hired to cater a family reunion on their property then it would meet the criteria for a Special Use Permit. Private reunions would not be events which would require such a permit. Katz asked about the definition of a commercial activity attracting at least 20 people. Willis responded that this was to address the Ordinance Review Committee's concern that a lower threshold be set. She continued than any number is somewhat arbitrary. However,she chose 20 as the number for the lower threshold