The Town of Orange has historically recognized the field surrounding
High Plains Community Center ("HPCC") as an area generally available for public
use by residents and by local private groups for a variety of events, including
but not limited to concerts, displays, craft fairs, picnics, parades, patriotic
events, meetings and the like. In the past, access to and use of this field
was administered by the Orange Park and Recreation Commission. As a result
of a 1995 dispute with regard to the placing of a private display at HPCC
Field, and in light of a recent decision of the United States Supreme Court,
the Board of Selectmen finds it to be in the best interest of the Town to
reestablish and clarify its policy regarding the placing of displays at the
field as follows:
A. The Town of Orange shall regulate the placing of displays
at HPCC Field pursuant to Section 7-148(c)(7) and Section 7-148(c)(10) of
the Connecticut General Statutes.
B. The past use of the HPCC Field as a local public forum
is hereby formally recognized.
C. The public health, safety and welfare of the Town is
best served by requiring any resident or locally based non-profit organizations
wishing to place a passive display at HPCC Field to apply for and obtain a
specific use permit.
D. The Orange Park and Recreation Commission shall administer application for and issuance of the passive display permits in accordance with the regulations adopted in §
294-5 below.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
PASSIVE DISPLAY
An unattended, non-mechanical, non-electrical depiction, exhibition
or arrangement of items and/or things all of which contain no combustible
or flammable parts, are less than eight feet in height, and which commemorate,
honor, recall, state or predict an event, concept, idea, place, thing or time.
Nothing herein shall supersede existing signage guidelines now in effect
and administered by the Plan and Zoning Commission and the Zoning Enforcement
Officer.