Bern Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVID
Special Events Overlay District
§ 184-132.21 Purpose.
It is the purpose of this overlay district to provide for the orderly and efficient conducting of community activities on large parcels of land within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District, it being recognized that such activities foster and create a sense of community by providing an opportunity for large community gatherings and events.
§ 184-132.22 Definitions.
A temporary outdoor event conducted on a nonresidential parcel of land located in the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District which is not a permitted use or a conditional use under Article XV of the Zoning Ordinance.
Special events shall consist of the following:
Fairs, which may include as a part of same wildlife shows and encounters, musical entertainment, automobile racing, demolition derbies, stunt shows, rodeo events, temporary amusement rides, a midway, livestock exhibits, arts and crafts exhibits, baking and vegetable exhibits, games and fireworks displays .
Craft shows.
Antique shows.
Weddings and wedding receptions.
Circus; as part of the circus, temporary amusement rides shall be permissible.
Woodsmen shows.
Flea markets.
Christmas light displays.
Model airplane shows.
Farm-related exhibitions or events, such as dairy breakfasts, exhibitions of farm machinery and technology, Agricultural Association meetings and 4-H-Development-Council-related events.
Dog training and dog shows.
Car shows.
Trade shows.
Family reunions.
Picnics.
Food and beverage concessions shall be allowed as an accessory use to all special events.
An event whose expected duration is ranges in length from portion or increment of a day to one week.
§ 184-132.23 Applicable zoning districts.
Special events shall be permitted upon lands within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District of the Township subject to the regulations and conditions contained within this article.
§ 184-132.24 Conditions.
[Amended 8-7-2018 by Ord. No. 314-2018]
The following conditions shall be met prior to the granting of a special events permit for a special event to be held within the Township on land in the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District:
A.
Minimum lot size. The minimum lot size for a property hosting a special event shall be 150 acres.
B.
Any property eligible for the hosting of special events shall be limited to one fair per year which shall last no longer than six days.
C.
Any property eligible for the hosting of special events shall be limited to 15 days of farm-related exhibition or events per year.
D.
Any property eligible for the hosting of special events shall be allowed to permit six of the following events in any combination; weddings, family reunions and picnics, conditioned upon the attendance at any such event shall be 350 persons or less.
E.
Outside of the fair and farm-related exhibitions or events, a property eligible for hosting special events shall be limited to conducting a maximum of two special events per month or 24 special events annually and said special events shall be limited to two one-day events per month or one two-day event per month.
F.
Racing. Automobile racing, motor vehicle racing, demolition derbies, motorized stunt shows and rodeo events shall only be permitted during a fair event as set forth in § 184-132.22A(1) and § 184-132.24B.
G.
Event times. Special events conducted during weekdays which are Monday through Thursday shall begin no earlier than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and end no later than 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Special events held on weekend days which are Friday through Sunday shall begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and shall end no later than 10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
H.
Required parking. A property hosting a special event must have a minimum of 1,850 parking spaces; said parking areas shall consist of either macadam, compacted stone or other similar material (approved by the Township).
I.
Restroom facilities. Any property within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District hosting special events must have permanent restroom facilities capable of accommodating a minimum of 500 persons.
J.
Overnight stays. No persons shall be allowed to remain overnight on any properties hosting special events within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District except as necessary, to the satisfaction of the Township or its designee, for security and/or care of animals, subject to noise, light and other restrictions as may be imposed by the Township or its designee.
K.
Trash removal. All properties hosting special events within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District shall have animal waste and trash removed from the premises daily.
L.
Lighting. The lighting on the property hosting special events within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District shall be directed so as to prevent no more than one lumen of light to escape the premises hosting the event.
M.
Yard requirements. The requirements for front, rear and side yards in the Special Events Overlay District shall be the same as in the IR District, except that any structures, improvements and uses that have in the past been part of a fair, festival, exhibition, show or other large community gathering shall be considered to be preexisting nonconforming structures, nonconforming buildings and/or nonconforming uses, and if applicable, situated on nonconforming lots, even though any such structure, building or use may have been of a temporary nature installed for a particular event. It is the specific intent of this provision that if setback and yard requirements set forth for the Special Events Overlay District are more restrictive than setbacks and yards utilized for past events, then the yard and setbacks previously utilized for past events shall continue to apply even though temporary structures, buildings and uses may have been disassembled or removed following the conclusion of any such past event.
§ 184-132.25 Special events permit.
Any person desiring to host a special event on property located within the Institutional/Recreational Zoning District within the Township shall make application for hosting such an event to the Township in a form as designated by the Township Manager or other Township designee. Said application for a special event shall be submitted to the Township Manager or other Township designee at least 30 days prior to the date that the special event is to commence. In the event that a request for a special events permit is denied by the Township Manager or other Township designee, the applicant shall have the right to appeal said denial to the Bern Township Board of Supervisors. Any applicant for a special event shall pay an application fee in an amount designated by the Township for said permit by resolution. Furthermore, any special event whose anticipated attendance is more than 500 persons in number shall apply for a permit pursuant to § 53-1 et seq. of the Bern Township Code of Ordinances, instead of this section.