The purpose and intent of this Article is to provide for the temporary use of land for special events in a manner consistent with its normal use and beneficial to the general welfare of the public. Furthermore, it is the intent of this Article to protect the public, nearby property owners, residents and businesses from special events that may be disruptive, unsafe or inappropriate given site conditions, traffic patterns, land use characteristics and the nature of the proposed use.

The term "special event" shall mean a temporary, short-term use of land or structures for one (1) or more of the following types of activities:

Type 1. Non-commercial events. Fund raising or non-commercial events held outside an enclosed permanent structure anywhere in the City including parades, advertised demonstrations in which more than fifty (50) persons are invited or attend, and any on-site signs and structures in conjunction with special events.

Type 2. Special seasonal events. Christmas tree sales, fruit or vegetable sales, or sale of other seasonally-grown products.

Type 3. Signage and promotional activities. Promotional activities or devices intended to attract attention to a specific place, business, organization, event or district such as banners, promotional signs and/or other signs as defined in the Sign Code.

Type 4. Commercial events. Commercial activities intended to sell, lease, rent or promote specific merchandise, services, product lines or other aspects of a business such as tent sales, arts and craft sales, trade shows, farmers' markets, seasonal merchandise sales, product demonstrations or festivities.

Type 5. Public attractions. Public events intended primarily for entertainment or amusement such as carnivals, concerts, festivals, barbeques, picnics or car washes.

Type 6. Recycling collection points. Drop-off area outside an enclosed primary permanent structure for recyclable material (see "RECYCLING", Section 405.060).

No special event subject to the provisions of this Article may be held until a permit is obtained from the City pursuant to this Article. A fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be paid to the City with each special events permit application; provided that no fee shall be required for applications submitted by not-for-profit organizations, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)3, if the application is accompanied by satisfactory evidence of such valid qualifying status.

Special events satisfying all the requirements of this Article may be permitted administratively by the City Administrator. No more than six (6) special event permits per calendar year shall be issued administratively at any location. Although different types of special events may be concurrent (and treated as one (1) event), no special event shall be consecutive; there must be a minimum of fourteen (14) days between each event except for a Type 6 event. If the City Administrator is unable to determine if all requirements of this Article are satisfied, the City Administrator may place the request on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen. No administrative permit shall be issued unless the requisite application is made, any required fee paid and the City Administrator or Board of Aldermen finds that the standards for issuance set forth in this Article have been satisfied.

Special events not fully satisfying the criteria of this Article may only be granted a permit by the Board of Aldermen after review and report by the City Administrator. This permit may be granted, denied or made subject to conditions that the Board of Aldermen may deem reasonably necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. The Board of Aldermen shall review the application based on the intent of this Article and the appropriateness of the event in light of the standards set forth herein.

A complete application shall be submitted to the City at least thirty (30) days prior to the requested start date of any special event. The City Administrator shall review the application and attachments to determine compliance with the standards of this Section. The City Administrator shall grant, grant with conditions, or deny any special event application within twenty (20) days after the filing of a complete application by the applicant. If any application is denied by the City Administrator, the City Administrator shall, in writing, notify the applicant of the reasons for the denial. If approved, the applicant shall obtain all other required permits, certificates and licenses that may be necessary. The applicant shall have the right to appeal, within ten (10) days, the City Administrator's denial of any special event application or imposition of conditions upon any grant of special event permit to the Board of Aldermen. Nothing herein shall limit the City's ability to accept an application less than thirty (30) days prior to the requested start date of any special event if sufficient time exists for City review.

Any person desiring to operate any special event requiring a special event permit shall submit a written application to the City Administrator on the form provided by the City. The application shall set forth such information requested and such other or additional information as may be requested by the City Administrator to ensure compliance with all legal requirements.

No special event permit issued under the provisions of this Section shall be assigned or transferred to any other person or transferred to another location for the operation of a special event by that business or person at a different location.

Because the intention of this Article is to allow for the temporary use of property under specific controlled conditions, the City's issuance of a special event permit is not intended to, and expressly does not, create a vested property right in any use of property allowed by the City's grant of a special use permit nor does it create a right or expectation in the property owner to the City's issuance of a subsequent special use permit for the same special use. The City may, at its sole discretion based upon the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Green Park and the community as a whole, revoke an existing special event permit for violation of its terms or other exigent circumstances or decline issuance of further permits.