Sussex special events ordinance remains on hold

At its Feb. 20 meeting, following several months of debate, Sussex County Council discussed more changes to an amended special events ordinance.

After a four-hour Jan. 16 public hearing, council voted to leave the public record open for 30 days to receive an economic impact study on a 2017 concert series at Hudson Fields north of Lewes.

“It's not been submitted,” said Sussex Planning and Zoning Director Janelle Cornwell.

“That surprises me,” said Councilman I.G. Burton, R-Lewes, who had requested the study.

During discussion on the ordinance, council agreed a checklist or application should be part of the ordinance. “Not all special events are the same,” said Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View. “One size does not fit all. A certain size should trigger an application.”

Cole said the location of special events requiring a county permit should be posted at the site or on the county's website.

Cole said the application should include information about alcohol, food trucks, police, restrooms, attendance and parking. “We have to have something to fall back on,” Cole said. “We need more information from people who are doing special events.”

Councilman Rob Arlett, R-Frankford, said he agreed with Cole, but he noted that most special events are sponsored by nonprofit organizations. “We can't clamp down on opportunities for the good these organizations do. That's the biggest fear from testimony we heard,” Arlett said.

“As the county grows, I hate to say it, but we need more rules. When there are commercial activities in residential areas, we should be concerned about the people in the area,” Cole said.

Even though assistant county attorney Vince Robertson assured Burton the proposed ordinance does not cover events held within towns, indoor events or events at churches, fire halls, schools and fraternal organizations such as VFWs and American Legions, Burton wanted it clarified in the ordinance so there would be no confusion.

Robertson also reiterated that recreation programs requiring memberships are permitted to use fields and facilities in AR-1 zoning districts without a special permit so those programs would be exempt from the proposed new regulations.

Robertson said council's ideas would be incorporated into another draft of the ordinance and be presented at a future meeting.

Council members did not discuss one of the most controversial regulations in the proposed ordinance; limiting special events allowed on a single parcel to three days per year. To exceed three days, organizers would need to apply for a conditional-use application.

The county's planning and zoning commission unanimously recommended that council reject the proposed ordinance and rewrite it with input from a working group of stakeholders.