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Organizers scale back Heart of Music plans, add screening and security; village seeks formal application
Summary
Heart of Music organizers told the board they are scaling the event, adding screening and 10 security guards, and expanding off-street parking; trustees said permit details are incomplete and asked for a formal application.
Organizers of the Heart of Music event told the East Aurora Village Board on March 3 they are trimming entertainment and logistics plans to address safety and capacity concerns, and they described added screening, extra security and additional off-street parking.
Tom Weir and Mike O’Connor (representing Heart of Music) and newly appointed board member Mike O’Connor reported on safety-driven changes: the organizers plan to add black wind screening around several venues including the rink and select Main Street venues to reduce “tailgating” and unsupervised congregating; they will add 10 additional security guards after 5 p.m. paid for by the festival; and they have identified roughly 1,000 off-street parking spaces at locations including the rink, Old Fisher-Price property and the middle school.
Why it matters: Village officials and organizers said safety is the top priority and that they are aligning on public-safety goals. Planning staff and the fire department previously raised concerns about fencing and emergency access; organizers acknowledged the need to finalize the site plan and permitted traffic closures and agreed to bring a completed application back to the board.
Board direction and next steps: Trustees asked organizers to submit a full permit application with exact venue maps so department heads can complete interagency review. Pat (department head) and other staff said a formal review is required before final approvals; they also noted the fire department’s concerns about any fencing that could impede emergency vehicle access.
Ending: Organizers and staff agreed to continue one-on-one follow-ups and to return with a finalized application and clear site drawings; trustees said they will schedule another meeting to review the full application and finalize permit conditions.
