Burlington can host waterfront events in all seasons
Burlington now can hold events in Waterfront Park year-round, following approval of a permit amendment the city had sought for nearly two years.
Mayor Miro Weinberger said in a statement that last month's Act 250 permit decision grants greater local control over the use of the park. Jesse Bridges, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront, called the decision "a win for the people of Burlington."
Bridges said he believes the new permit will take effect this fall, when the city begins upgrading the bike path and park infrastructure.
JANUARY: Burlington asks for year-round Waterfront Park permit
MARCH: Burlington Waterfront Park noise at issue in hearing
RELATED: $9.1M waterfront overhaul work begins
The city is unhappy, however, with a few of the conditions the District 4 Environmental Commission imposed in response to neighbors' noise concerns.
The city's previous permit for Waterfront Park allowed events only from May 27 to Sept. 15, which threw into question the fate of popular events such as the Penguin Plunge fundraiser and the fireworks for First Night on New Year's Eve.
The amended permit allows Burlington to hold events in all seasons and removes previous restrictions on the number of events.
Burlington residents might start to see new waterfront events like a harvest festival in the fall or more fundraising runs or walks in the spring, Bridges said.
Events can be held at the park no more than three weekends in a row.
"That's for everybody's benefit," Bridges said.
People who live on Lake Street near Waterfront Park testified at a public hearing this spring that noise and traffic from the park disturbs their sleep and daily lives.
Noise issues have improved during the past year, said Judy Greensmith, who lives on Lake Street, but she has been frustrated when events prevent her from driving home.
The amended Act 250 permit, issued July 15, includes the following conditions:
• The Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department must monitor noise levels at the sidewalk along Lake Street hourly during events with amplified noise, and must keep the sound recordings for three years.
• The city must publish a staff member's cellphone number for complaints from the public during events.
• The Parks and Recreation Commission will continue to have an advisory committee that focuses on mitigating the neighborhood impact of waterfront events.
• People should be "actively discouraged" from using Lake Street to enter or leave the park.
Burlington attorneys Brian Dunkiel and Elizabeth Catlin asked the commission July 30 to remove some of the conditions that the city says are "unreasonably burdensome" or too vague — including the requirement for blocking Lake Street to pedestrians.
The city also is seeking clarification on conditions that require written approval from the commission for all signs and banners in the park and the way maximum decibel levels at Waterfront Park events should be measured.
Contact April Burbank at 660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank.