|
Topic Description:
The Board of
Supervisors approved the outdoor lighting text amendment on
September 16, 2002.
Since that time, concerns have circulated in the
recreation and sports community.
Those concerns are that the lighting ordinance prevents
special events/tournaments from extending beyond the 11:00 p.m.
curfew identified in the recreational lighting section, and that
waiver requests through the Board of Supervisors are required to
extend that time. It
needs to be noted that the waiver process spelled out in the
Zoning Ordinance is aimed exclusively at lighting design issues.
The recreational lighting ordinance does establish an
11:00 p.m. curfew for normally scheduled events; ; however, the
Fauquier County Code allows [Section 16.2 (a)-(c)] the Director of
Parks and Recreation flexibility under certain circumstances. The referenced Code section states:
The Director of Parks & Recreation shall determine
the hours when any park operated by the County shall be open to
the public. Such
hours shall be posted prominently at the entrance of the park, and
it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to be present in
the park during any hours when the park is not open to the public,
except:
·
When any persons are engaged either as participants
or spectators in any County-sponsored activity or event, when such
activity extends beyond the posted hours of the park.
- When any
person has been issued a valid permit to conduct an event or
activity that extends beyond the posted hours of the park.
To
prevent Zoning Ordinance confusion, staff proposes that the Board
of Supervisors reconsider the previously approved text amendment.
It is recommended that additional language be inserted to
emphasize no event shall be permitted after 11:00 p.m. in a public
park, unless a valid permit is obtained from the Director of Parks
and Recreation in accord with the Fauquier County Code.
A
resolution to reconsider the amendment to Section 9-1006 of the
Zoning Ordinance is included as Attachment 1.
If the Board of Supervisors wishes to insert the new
language, an ordinance of approval for the amended text amendment
is included.
|