The Arcadia City Council on Wednesday approved a special event permit for the Sunnybrae Porch Fest planned for Oct. 5 after city staff and Playhouse Arts explained neighborhood outreach and logistics.

Playhouse Arts staff and volunteers said last year’s inaugural Porch Fest exceeded organizers’ expectations and that this year’s plans reflect changes based on resident feedback. Neroli (Playhouse Arts) said hosts and performers are already signed up and that the organization conducted door‑to‑door outreach; she told the council that organizers obtained written approval from every tenant and homeowner in the zone they requested to close. “A 100% of the houses that live in the zone we are asking to block off have given us written approval,” she said.

City staff described the permit as a primarily private‑property event with a partial street closure on Beverly Drive (between Chester Avenue and Buttermilk Lane) to create an information/organizer hub and space for porta‑potties while allowing resident access. Staff recommended approval and suggested the council authorize the city manager and staff to finalize permit conditions and include any amendments necessary to ensure public safety and minimize neighborhood impacts. The organizer team said there will be about 25 staff/volunteers to steward the event, no food or alcohol sales, and trash and restroom arrangements.

Council members sought assurances about amplified sound, trash pickup and how hosts would coordinate with neighbors. Playhouse Arts said they will require hosts to notify adjacent neighbors, will space amplified acts to reduce overlap, will supply trash and recycling stations and will hold a mandatory host meeting before the event. The motion to approve included language that allows staff to add permit conditions deemed necessary; the permit was approved.

Why it matters: Porch Fest is a neighborhood‑based, free music event that organizers said encourages walking and biking between performing porches; the council’s approval follows targeted neighborhood outreach and staff review of public‑safety logistics.

Next steps: organizers said they will complete host coordination and volunteer training, and staff will finalize permit conditions, monitor the event and report back after the festival.