Orland Park Board Members Discuss Proposed Changes To Special Event Permit Process

Orland Park IL

16 November, 2021

2:46 PM

Description

By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press: ORLAND PARK, Ill. – Changes may soon be coming to the way the Village of Orland Park approves and processes special event permits. The Village Board of Trustees voted 7-0 Monday, Nov. 15, during the Committee of the Whole meeting to recommend future Village Board approval of an ordinance amending the Village Code in reference to special event permits. "Currently all events are approved by staff, even the larger events, which clearly require some board review," Orland Park Assistant Village Manager Greg Summers said during a presentation on the proposed changers. "There are inaccurate, inconsistent and omitted event types within the current categories. Additionally, there are two places this information is currently found – the Village Code and it is also located within the Land Development Code … and the regulations are inconsistent in terms of fees and times." Summers said the proposed changes include two different approval levels: for events of fewer than 100 people that could be approved by the Village manager or his/her designee; and for events of more than 100 people that would need to be approved by the Village Board. He also said four separate categories were identified. They are: public property events, such as parades, walk/run events, park rentals and block parties; private property events, including sales, carnivals, fundraisers and celebrity events; large rallies (public demonstrations); and commercial filming events. "Additionally, the new regulations would codify some of the missing fees and clarify which department processes each particular type of special event, the insurance requirements and the hold harmless provision of each of those," Summers said. "They eliminate some fees for more resident-style events while offsetting some of those fees within nominal increases to commercial-style events. "They [also] reduce the notice period, which is presently 30 days, down to just 14 days." Before the vote, Mayor Keith Pekau voiced support for the changes. "I think it is great that we are cleaning up our code and making it more consistent," he said. The proposed changes will be officially voted on for approval at a future Village Board meeting. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.