[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Raritan as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 10-11-2000 by Ord. No. 00-27 (Ch. 5.36 of the 2000 Code)]
[Amended 3-6-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-9]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
SPECIAL EVENTS
Any cultural, religious, artistic or commercial events which
are located in Raritan Township with attendance open to the general
public.
Special events may be permitted in any nonresidential zone in
the Township by the Police Chief and Construction Official, subject
to the following conditions:
A. The proposed site contains a minimum
of two acres;
B. The proposed site is more than
500 feet from the nearest property used for residential purposes;
C. The special event would have no
adverse impact on the health, safety or welfare of the neighborhood
or the municipality;
D. Adequate parking is provided;
E. Adequate sanitary facilities are
provided.
Not more than 10 days of special events may be held on a property
during a single calendar year.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
Separate copies of the special events application must be submitted to the Police Chief and Construction Official at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed event. The application to the Construction Official must be accompanied by an application fee as provided in Chapter
245, Fees, §
245-4. The application will be deemed denied unless both officials give written approval within 10 days after the application is submitted.
A single sign no larger than four feet by eight feet shall be
permitted on the site for five days prior to the special event and
during the special event.
Exempted from this article are events held at churches, temples,
synagogues, schools, YMCAs, YWCAs and the Flemington Fairgrounds.
[Adopted 10-11-2000 by Ord. No. 00-27 (Ch. 8.32 of the 2000 Code)]
For the purpose of this article, the term "special road event"
shall be deemed to include any nonmotorized soap box derby or bikeathon,
marathon run, walkathon or jogging group, or similarly organized road
event, which intends to proceed along a public street or other public
right-of-way within the Township.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
An application for a permit to conduct a special road event shall be made to the Chief of Police, in writing, by the person or persons in charge or responsible for the event. A fee as provided in Chapter
245, Fees, §
245-4, shall accompany the application. This fee may be waived upon submission of documents verifying that the sponsoring group is a nonprofit organization as defined by the statutes of the State of New Jersey or Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Such application shall set forth the following information:
A. The name, address and telephone
number of the person requesting the permit;
B. The name and address of the organization
or group he or she is representing;
C. The name, address and telephone
number of the person or persons who will act as chairman of the special
road event and be responsible for the conduct thereof;
D. The number of monitors to be provided
and the identifying marks, badges or symbols to be worn or used by
the monitors;
E. The purpose of the event, the
estimated number of persons to participate and otherwise attend, and
the plans for parking of all vehicles;
F. The method of notifying participants
of the terms and conditions of the special event;
G. The date the event is to be conducted
and the hours it will be commenced and terminated;
H. The location where the special
event is to be held, including the specific assembly and dispersal
location, and the proposed route and the plans for assembly and dispersal
of the participants;
I. Whether or not any music will
be provided, either live or recorded;
J. The number, types and locations
of all loudspeakers and amplifying devices to be used;
K. The name and address of any charity
for which the special event is being run, including a disclosure as
to the percentage of proceeds to be raised from the special event
to be actually donated to the charity after administrative costs are
deducted;
L. Whether any admission fee will
be charged for participation in the special event and the amount of
the fee, if any;
M. Such other information as the
Chief of Police may deem necessary in order to properly provide for
traffic control, street and property maintenance and the protection
of the public health, safety and welfare.
If the Chief of Police, in his or her sole discretion, shall
find that the special road event is not to be held for any unlawful
purpose and will not in any manner tend to unreasonably interfere
with the public use of the streets and sidewalks, and the event organizer/sponsor
will meet each condition as required, he or she shall issue such permit.
No such permit shall be issued for a special road event unless
application for the permit has been made not less than 30 days in
advance of the date on which the special event is sought to be held.
No such special road event shall commence earlier than 9:00 a.m. nor
continue beyond the hour of 5:00 p.m. on the same day. All directional
signs erected in connection with the special event shall be removed
within 24 hours of the termination of the event. The Chief of Police
shall review the proposed course of travel for the event and may alter
or totally redesignate the course of travel, as he or she may deem
appropriate.
Any permit granted under this article may contain conditions
reasonably calculated to reduce or minimize dangers and hazards to
vehicular or pedestrian traffic and the public health, safety and
welfare, including but not limited to changes in the date, time, duration
or number of participants as requested by the applicant. For the purposes
of public safety and welfare, Chief of Police may order the temporary
closing of streets and/or the temporary prohibition of parking along
same during the event, and shall direct the posting of proper warning
signs in connection with the event, as provided by law.
A. If the Chief of Police determines that additional Police Officers will be required for the purpose of preserving the public health, safety and welfare during the course of the special event, the holder of the special event permit shall deposit in advance of the holding of the event a sum of money to be determined by the Chief of Police to pay in full for all police services which the Chief of Police deems necessary in connection with the special event. However, the Township will provide to private, nonprofit organizations, as defined in §
386-8, up to three police officers, at no additional cost or expense to the event organizer/sponsor. Any officers required over those provided by the Township shall be paid for by the organizer/sponsor of the event.
B. If additional
costs are incurred for the purpose of providing police protection,
the holder of the permit shall be required to pay to the Township
the additional funds within 10 days of notification by the Township
as to the exact figure due. In the event that the sum of money so
deposited in advance exceeds the funds needed to pay for actual police
protection, the Township shall refund any excess deposit within 10
days after the holding of said special event.
The holder of a special road event permit shall agree, in writing,
to indemnify and hold harmless the Township, its servants, agents
and employees, for any and all claims caused by or arising out of
the activity covered in the permit. Further, the holder of the permit
shall present to the Chief of Police an insurance policy in a form
acceptable to the Chief which will provide for indemnification as
aforementioned.