This chapter shall be titled "Special Events."
This chapter is enacted to plan for private gatherings and organized
activities which, due to their size and/or special requirements, place
additional demands on Township support services or pose a potential
danger to public health, safety and welfare. Therefore, these events
necessitate that the Township receive advance notice of the events
and be compensated for services required for the events, which go
beyond usual Township operations.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall,
for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning herein indicated.
Words in the singular include the plural and those in the plural include
the singular.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Any public event officially sponsored or organized by the
Township.
LANDOWNER
The legal owner of land on which the special event is to
take place.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, partnership, association, firm,
or any other similar entity.
SPECIAL EVENT
Any preplanned public or private single event or series of
events that, because of its nature, interest, location, promotion,
or any combination of similar influences, (1) is anticipated to have
in excess of 50 persons in attendance; (2) is proposed to be held
on public property or on private property but impacting public property,
roadways, or parking on public roadways; or (3) requires the use of
support services. Special events shall include, but are not limited
to, races, parades, carnivals, festivals, shows, concerts, galas,
fundraisers, neighborhood celebrations or block parties, public events
which are privately sponsored but open to the public, or activities
of a similar nature. The term shall not include normal operations,
activities, or affairs of any duly established recreational, religious,
or educational organization or institution located within the Township
or a lawfully existing event venue approved by the Township, a private
event on private residential property whose estimated total attendance
of all persons is anticipated to not exceed 75 people and will have
no parking on a public roadway, or any community event.
SPONSOR
The person responsible for organizing, hosting, or paying
for the special event.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Those services provided by the Township or the Township's
designated emergency services provider, to ensure that a special event
is conducted to protect the rights, safety, health, property, and
general welfare of its citizens. These services include, but are not
limited to, fire protection, ambulance services, police protection,
crowd management and control, traffic and parking management, and
solid waste management.
No person, sponsor, or landowner shall conduct any special event
in the Township without first obtaining a permit from the Township.
The permit fee shall be set, from time to time, by the Board
of Supervisors by resolution and be included in the Township's
fee schedule. The permit fee shall be paid at the time of filing the
application.
The Township Manager shall notify the sponsor of a special event
within 10 days of the final decision. If the notification is an approval,
it shall include any costs and/or conditions attached to the approval.
If the notification is a denial, it shall include the reasons for
denial.
By issuing a special event permit, the Township makes no guarantees
and assumes no liability for the safety of attendees, participants,
or spectators of the event. The Township shall require as a condition
of issuance of an event permit that the sponsor and landowner agree
to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Township, its officials,
employees, agents, and designated emergency providers from any and
all costs, damages, or other liabilities related to the special event.