Dallas board upholds revocation of Peter Pan's Backyard special-event permit

The Permanent and License Appeal Board for the City of Dallas voted unanimously Thursday to affirm the director of Convention and Event Services' decision to revoke a special-event permit for Peter Pan's Backyard's “Trail of Lights.” The decision followed the city's presentation of documentary evidence and witness testimony and came despite no one appearing on behalf of the appellant.

The hearing, held Feb. 20, 2025, centered on whether the director's December 2024 revocation letter — based on alleged violations of Dallas City Code Chapter 42A and false statements on the permit application — should be reversed. Daniel Moore, board general counsel, told the board the appeal must be decided on a preponderance of the evidence and that the board should “affirm or reverse the action of the director by a majority vote.”

City witnesses, led by Jacqueline Justice, assistant director of Convention and Event Services, described repeated on-site inspections and a sequence of alleged violations. Justice said the initial permit, issued Dec. 4, 2024, was a five-day authorization that was extended multiple times; the office allows up to 10 days per issuance and up to 60 days in a calendar year. Justice said her office extended this permit four times after receiving property authorization from Hunt Realty Investments, the landowner for the Reunion Arena lawn at 700 Sports Street.

City staff presented photographs and inspection findings showing trash and litter outside the event perimeter, illegally parked vehicles on public right-of-way, bicycle barricades left in the public right-of-way, food trucks operating although temporary-food permits were not on file with consumer health, and decorative elements attached to city property without authorization. Justice testified that during a December inspection city staff found Styrofoam “peanuts” discharged into city storm drains and an above-ground fuel tank with diesel being transferred into portable containers; Dallas Fire-Rescue issued violations related to the fuel storage and handling and the Office of Environmental Quality identified hazardous waste and stormwater pollution concerns.

Justice also said the permit holder marketed and sold tickets for dates beyond the authorized activation period. Photographs taken Dec. 24, 2024, were introduced by the city as evidence of food trucks and other unpermitted activity. The city said earlier concerns — such as litter — prompted repeated attempts to contact the applicant and, when those attempts failed, to contact the property owner; the property owner later reauthorized a limited extension.

No one appeared on behalf of the appellant at the hearing. The board was advised that written materials submitted by the appellant were accepted as exhibits and could be considered, but the appellant did not provide live testimony. In closing, the city argued the violations and the maker's alleged misrepresentations on the application met the grounds for revocation under Dallas City Code, Chapter 42A, Section 42A-20.

After questions from board members about inspection frequency (city staff said roughly seven site visits) and the timeline for extensions, Board member Jennifer Shin moved to affirm the director's decision to revoke the permit; Robert Quint seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously in favor of affirming the revocation. The board chair noted members would be sent the written findings for signature. The director's revocation remains in effect and, according to testimony, the appellant would be barred from holding the same event for 14 months under the director's decision.