Organizer failed to get county OK

Continued from Page 10 ture hot air balloons, local bands, food trucks and vendors, and would have been sponsored by the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

Kristen Tremblay, the county’s zoning administrator, expressed concern that too little information had been presented to them through the organizers of the festival, including the expected attendance.

No flame certifications, stage specifications, or restroom permits had been obtained. The sheriff’s department had yet to be contacted by the promotors, and the Department of Emergency Services had not received any emergency or safety plans.

A site plan showing parking, vendors, emergency and first aid services had yet to be brought to the fire marshal’s office.

With the need for emergency response of primary concern, officials said traffic patterns would pose a great issue for the days of the festival. It was again brought up that organizers would need to obtain permits for that as well, which could have been done months prior.

The 5-acre site plan of the event was presented through a phone screenshot. With the organizers needing to contact multiple agencies, Spies was advised that obtaining all the permits would be impossible to accomplish on time, as the process is lengthy.

A similar event slotted to take place in Hartford County had to move to the Mason-Dixon fairground after public safety became a major concern. Issues also arose with festivals in Carroll and Talbot counties.

At a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Aug. 10, the night after the Technical Review Committee meeting, Spies requested that the event receive a special exception permit, however, the request was unanimously tabled.

With concerns for increasing hotel prices, Spies suggested moving the event to a different location, particularly a wooded area with wind protection for the balloons.

“There’s just no real way around it,” he said. “We wanted to give it a try.”

Board Attorney David Gaskell said tabling the issue would be the best decision to save money. It would also give Spies the chance to obtain the necessary permits.

However, it was noted that the exception permit would only be good for one year.

Furthermore, the dates of the event could not be changed. The opinion, which was required for submission in writing, could not be signed until September. The appeal period would last 30 days.

“You’d have to jump through several hurdles,” Gaskell said.