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Supervisors direct staff to refine event-venue definition after festival ordinance changes; goal is to distinguish private gatherings from commercial venues
Summary
Board members instructed staff and the planning commission to clarify the event-venue definition so the zoning code treats commercial event venues (advertised and ticketed gatherings) differently from private reunions or church events and to avoid an unintended loophole allowing near-weekly outdoor gatherings under the festival chapter.
County planning staff briefed the board on proposed zoning ordinance amendments to the event-venue and festival language. Staff said the recently amended festival ordinance defines outdoor music and limits festival permitting, but zoning staff remains uncertain whether small outdoor gatherings (fewer than 100 people) at venues with no permanent building would be permitted by right or require a special use permit under the proposed event-venue language.
Staff recommended the board either provide clearer direction to staff for a revised draft or refer the amendments back to the Planning Commission with specific directives. Supervisors emphasized the policy goal: commercial operations that advertise and charge fees for events should be regulated as "event venues," while private family reunions, church potlucks and similar non-commercial gatherings should generally remain allowable without a commercial SUP. Supervisors also cited public-safety concerns for outdoor gatherings with limited shelter or sanitary facilities and asked staff to include building- or shelter-related criteria where appropriate.
Board consensus directed staff to refine the event-venue definition and enforcement language to ensure the ordinance captures commercial event activity (ticketed/advertised or recurring commercial offerings) and to return with a revised draft before scheduling a public hearing.
