Lake Placid board approves one‑year special exception for Big Bang Fireworks tent at Royal's Plaza

The Lake Placid Board of Adjustments on June 2 approved a one‑year special exception allowing a temporary tent for seasonal retail sales of sparklers and fireworks at Royal's Plaza, 70 Plaza Ave, with conditions including a certificate of insurance naming the town as additional insured, limits on how many days the tent may be erected, security requirements and restrictions on signage.

Town planner Dana Riddell told the board the site is owned by Royal Oaks Lunch Inc. and that the applicant is Big Bang Fireworks LLC, owned by Justin Driggers; the agent is Gold Standard Builder Services and the applicant was represented by attorney Richard Irvin. Riddell said the request is for a special exception in the C‑1 Highway Commercial District because a temporary structure in excess of short durations requires Board of Adjustment approval. Riddell recommended limiting the approval to one year rather than the three years the applicant requested because of nearby construction and traffic circulation concerns related to a planned SmokeShack access point near the proposed tent location. "I am going to reduce it to a 1 year request as my recommendation," Riddell said.

The board approved the special exception with conditions that, as recorded in the motion, include: the tent may be erected no more than 31 consecutive days and no more than 62 days in a calendar year; hours of operation limited to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; the tent location may be shifted to accommodate adjacent construction while meeting all C‑1 setback requirements (a 20‑foot front setback was cited by staff); barricades or similar measures shall be used to prevent parking in travel lanes and ensure traffic circulation; temporary lighting must be shielded to avoid glare onto adjacent properties; banners, feather/blade signs and snipe signs are prohibited and all signs must comply with Town Code section 154‑15; the applicant must provide a certificate of insurance naming the town as additional insured and execute a contract indemnifying the town as approved by the town attorney; the applicant must employ dedicated night watch/security during closure hours and security must conduct hourly checks and report incidents to management or law enforcement; and the applicant may use a storage container as amended by the board.

Attorney Richard Irvin, representing Big Bang Fireworks, said the retailer has operated in Florida for more than 20 years and emphasized safety practices and staff training. "Big Bang's been in business for over 20 years," Irvin said, adding the company trains staff and operates with private security. A resident, Margaret Dear of 1504 French St., spoke in support: "I think it's a great idea," she said.

The motion to approve (recorded as "Number 2, move to approve hearing LPBOA 25.002") was seconded and passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting yes. The board amended staff's recommended conditions to allow a storage container rather than prohibiting it outright and to adopt the one‑year expiration that staff recommended. Riddell noted that if the board requires a contract indemnifying the town, that contract would need council approval and to be resolved before the tent sale could proceed if agreement is not reached within the week.

The board concluded the hearing and adjourned the Board of Adjustments portion of the meeting before moving on to a collaborative session with the local planning agency.