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Farmers market organizers ask to expand onto Broadway; council asks staff to analyze feasibility
Summary
Organizers of the Jackson farmers market asked council for permission to expand back onto Broadway to accommodate more vendors. Council did not approve expansion at the meeting but unanimously directed staff to evaluate public-safety, traffic and permitting implications and return with recommendations quickly.
Representatives of the Jackson Farmers Market asked the Town Council May 19 for permission to expand the weekly market onto Broadway to gain additional vendor spaces lost when the Center Street parklet was installed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jenna (market organizer) told council the market has received "an overwhelming number of applications" and that existing vendor demand and some vendors'need for more space make Broadway a preferable option. She said the market historically operated successfully on Broadway and that expansion would support local small businesses and the local economy.
Councilmembers did not make a decision on the spot. Chief of Police Michelle Weber told council that because the market request would change the event footprint and public-safety profile (the request involves extending onto Broadway), she preferred the application come back after a formal staff review that includes input from fire, public works and other departments. Weber said the police department recently assumed special-events permitting responsibilities and wanted to ensure safety and operational concerns were fully reviewed.
Council voted unanimously to direct staff to evaluate the proposed Broadway expansion and return with a recommendation. Councilmembers asked staff to prioritize the review so a result could be available before early summer event dates; staff said they would try to return recommendations promptly and contact the applicant to confirm timing.
The council did not at the meeting make any changes to the town's special-event process; staff will bring a formal recommendation and any permit language for council action if the expansion is feasible.
