The City Council shall have the authority to grant a permit for a temporary event on a parcel or parcels of land notwithstanding the fact that said temporary event constitutes a use or uses which are not permitted in the zoning district in which the parcel(s) is/are located. The following criteria shall apply:
A. The permit shall be valid for such period as the City Council may determine. The authorized permit period shall include the time required to set up and remove any structures, accessory equipment, fences, or other paraphernalia and to remove same. All such activities must be completed within the specified time period.
B. The event must be sponsored and managed by a governmental, civic, nonprofit, not-for-profit, religious, or public/nonprofit educational organization or institution. The organization or institution need not be the owner of the property on which the event is to take place.
C. The event must be for the benefit or purposes of the sponsoring organization/institution or for the benefit of a charity, charitable cause, or any other purpose which contributes to the public welfare. An event intended to raise funds for or further the political candidacy of any incumbent or candidate for public office shall not be eligible to receive a permit under this chapter.
D. Any permit issued shall specify a maximum attendance allowed for the permitted event.
E. The Council shall have the right to limit the number of temporary events permitted under this chapter to be held at any one site in a calendar year.
After receipt of the application, the City Clerk shall forward the application to the City Council for preliminary consideration at the next regular meeting of the Council. Representatives of the sponsoring organization shall be present to answer any questions that may arise.
The City Council may, upon majority vote of those Councilors present and voting, vote to hold a public hearing on the application. If the Council votes to hold a public hearing, it shall cause notice of said hearing to be posted at the City Clerk's office and published, at the applicant's expense, in a newspaper of general circulation in the community at least seven days prior to the date of said public hearing. The notice shall contain the name of the applicant, the location where the event will be held including the name and address of the owner of the property if the applicant is not the owner, a description of the event, and the dates and times of the event. Abutters shall be notified of this hearing, also at the applicant's expense; proof of notification shall be provided.
[Amended 12-4-2014]
The applicant shall secure all necessary permits pertaining to the event from City offices and departments, including but not limited to police, fire, Building Inspector, Board of Health, Conservation Commission, and Department of Public Works.
If the event is to attract more than 3,000 people, or if there is any other reason for special concern, upon a majority vote of those Councilors present and voting, the applicant shall be required to post a bond to the City in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor sufficient to cover any damages, expenses, or liability to the City that might result from the event.
When the foregoing requirements have been completed, but in any case no later than 75 calendar days before the event, the City Council shall, by a two-thirds vote of the City Council, vote to issue or deny the permit. If it issues the permit, the Council may impose any conditions which it feels reasonable and necessary to protect the interests of the City, the participants, and the neighborhood in which the event is to be held. These conditions shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Limitations of days and/or hours of operation.
C. Signage. (Signs may be permitted to be erected for periods exceeding 72 hours, provided that it is explicitly stated in the permit granted.)
D. Provisions for police or other security personnel.
E. Provisions for temporary sanitary facilities.
Any temporary events granted a permit hereunder shall still be subject to all other applicable state and local codes and ordinances.
[Amended 2-1-2007]
A nonrefundable filing fee as set forth in Chapter 174, Fees, shall be required to cover expenses associated with the application process for a temporary event permit. This filing fee is to be paid to the City Clerk when the application is filed.
The City Council may, by a two-thirds vote of the City Council, waive any of the foregoing requirements stated in §§
303-2 through
303-8.