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Council approves Luft Classicker vintage car show permit despite objections over late advertising
Summary
The Tiverton Town Council approved a special event permit for the Luft Classicker vintage car show at Longplex Family Sports Center May 18, 2025, by a 4–2 vote after councilors raised concerns about advertising and parking capacity.
TIVERTON, R.I. — The Tiverton Town Council voted 4–2 to approve a special-event permit for the Luft Classicker vintage car show at the Longplex Family Sports Center, scheduled for May 18, 2025.
Applicant Blake Hathaway described the event to the licensing board as “a vintage car show for Volkswagen and Porsches,” and estimated “about…a hundred cars or so,” with a preregistration system in place. Hathaway said the event is likely to draw between 500 and 700 people and that preregistration would provide a final count before the event.
Council debate and concerns
Councilor Burke said he would vote against the permit because advertising had already begun before the council reviewed the application. “I'll note that I'll be voting against this because we have talked over and over again to the owner of that complex that if they want us to look at these events, they need to come to us much sooner than the advertising phase has already started,” Burke said.
Other councilors raised parking and logistics questions. A councilor noted that a 700-person attendance estimate would require roughly 350 parking spaces (assuming two people per car) and asked whether Longplex had that capacity. Hathaway said he did not know the exact number of parking spaces and expected guest turnover during the five-hour event. Hathaway also told the council the applicant submitted the application in early April and that the licensing clerk had missed placing the item on the April 21 agenda.
Vote and outcome
Councilor Perry made the motion to approve and Councilor Camuto seconded. The motion carried on a 4–2 roll call (names of individual 'yes' and 'no' votes were not recorded in the public transcript). The council noted all necessary department pre-approvals had been received.
What’s next
The applicant was told he would receive final notification and to ensure parking and logistics met any permit conditions. The council did not add further permit conditions on the record.
Ending
With the vote recorded as 4–2 in favor, the applicant was cleared to hold the May 18 Luft Classicker event at Longplex Family Sports Center, subject to any departmental approvals already granted.
