The Punta Gorda Development Review Committee approved three event permits and accepted the minutes of its Nov. 7 meeting during a brief session that opened at 9:02 a.m. and adjourned at 9:13 a.m.

The committee approved permit 25-195784 for Deep Creek Community Church to hold a Christmas Eve service at Lashley Park on Dec. 24, 2025. Sandy Cook, representing Deep Creek Community Church, told the committee, “They’re gonna have 2, police officers there as we have every year, and, they’re already signed up for.” Urban design staff requested a certificate of insurance listing the city as additional insured and reminded the applicant that the Harbor Walk must remain kept open during the event. The permit was approved with additional staff comments (motion by Unidentified Speaker 2; second by Unidentified Speaker 1).

The committee approved application 25-195951 for the Sullivan Street Craft Fair, with the motion specifying dates in January, September and November 2026. Diane Ford of the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce represented the application. Staff from public works reiterated that each Type 3 barricade must include cones on top of the legs to reduce tripping hazards; urban design requested an insurance certificate naming the city as additional insured and an IRS tax-exemption certificate. The committee noted that the craft fair’s street-closure plan must be reviewed by City Council; the application will be scheduled before the Punta Gorda City Council on Dec. 3 for road-closure approval.

Application 25-196163 for the Holly Jolly Market at Gilchrist Park in December 2025 was presented with no applicant at the podium; staff read their comments into the record. Urban design requested a certificate of insurance listing the city as additional insured and said the application must clarify any requested street or sidewalk closures. The permit was approved with additional comments.

The committee’s actions were procedural approvals of event permits with standard staff conditions — insurance naming the city as additional insured, maintaining public access along the Harbor Walk, and barricade safety measures. The meeting concluded without further substantive policy decisions.