Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Amusement Permit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wayne select board approves special-amusement permit for Jellystone Park after public questions on fireworks, noise and structures
Summary
The Town of Wayne Select Board voted to approve a special-amusement permit renewal for Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp following a public hearing in which neighbors raised questions about fireworks security, amplified events and prolonged use of sirens.
The Town of Wayne Select Board voted to approve a special-amusement permit renewal for Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp following a public hearing during the board’s regular meeting.
The permit was approved after the board opened a public hearing, heard roughly a dozen minutes of public comment and received assurances from the campground’s general manager about fireworks security and event amplification. The board recorded its approval by voice vote.
Why it matters: Neighbors raised recurring concerns about noise, fireworks and permanent structures at the campground. The board and town staff said the CEO (code enforcement officer) had reviewed the campground’s compliance and reported no active violations to his office as of the day of the meeting; members of the public asked that that record explicitly note 2023 and 2024 as well as 2022.
At the public hearing, residents asked whether fireworks at the campground would be accompanied by on-site firefighting personnel and about limits on amplification and siren use. Chris, the campground’s general manager, told the board: “I do not believe we had any amplified events for fireworks last year,” and said fireworks are scheduled for registered guests and will be inspected and approved by the fire marshal. He added that most activities are daytime events and “there’s no band or anything like that.”
Neighbors raised two specific concerns. First, loud amplified shows in prior years were audible across the lake; several residents asked the campground to commit in writing that amplified outdoor sound would not be used. Second, residents asked the board to limit the use or duration of vehicle sirens during events after a previous year when sirens sounded for an extended period. The campground manager said he would check last year’s activities and follow up with the town on any amplified events; the board said it would discuss siren use with police.
On whether fireworks are open to the public, the campground manager said fireworks are for guests who are registered at the campground (including visitors who pay for a visitor pass) and are “not open to everyone.”
In discussion before the final vote, the town manager confirmed the CEO’s written file had noted no current violations reported to his office; one board member asked that the CEO’s letter explicitly state the absence of complaints for 2023 and 2024 to make the file more complete.
The board moved to approve the permit after the hearing closed; the motion carried by voice vote.
The select board and staff indicated they will: (1) ask the campground to confirm in writing whether any amplified events occurred last season and (2) coordinate with police regarding limits on siren use during permitted activities. The town’s code enforcement officer remains the point of contact for any building or code violations that neighbors report.
Ending: The permit approval stands as recorded and the town manager said staff would follow up with the campground and the CEO to document the items raised by residents.
