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Council approves Phantom Farms vendor fair after neighbors raise parking and safety concerns
Summary
The Cumberland Town Council approved a special‑event entertainment license for Phantom Farms’ vendor fair on May 9, 2026, but required a police detail after neighbors testified that prior events left streets blocked, driveways and mailboxes obstructed and raised inconsistent parking counts on the applicant’s filings.
The Cumberland Town Council voted on May 6 to approve a special‑event entertainment license for Phantom Farms’ vendor fair at 2920 Diamond Hill Road on May 9, 2026, adding a condition that a police detail be assigned for the event.
Neighbor Linda Perillo told the council she has repeatedly experienced blocked driveways, mailboxes and people entering private property during prior Phantom Farms events. “He stated that there were 80 parking spaces to the Department of Business Regulation … and on his permit for his entertainment license, he says that there are 50 to 75, and that’s a big difference,” Perillo said, asking the council how the event would accommodate vendors and attendees without displacing neighborhood parking.
The testimony prompted several councilors to press public‑safety concerns about emergency vehicle access and the legality of private staff directing traffic. Councilor Sweet said she found the applicant’s attendance estimate implausible and warned the numbers “defy logic,” and several councilors said they would vote for approval only if the town required a police detail.
After debate the council moved to approve the license with a police detail condition. The roll‑call vote was initially hard to follow on the record; the presiding official later announced the motion passed 5–2, with Councilors Sweet and Bolio voting no.
Council members and staff said they would coordinate with the police chief to trial temporary no‑parking signage on streets with mailboxes and to refine longer‑term enforcement. One councilor said she would call the police chief the following day and update neighbors on expected measures.
The applicant was represented earlier in the meeting by a different license item (Above and Beyond Bartending) but did not appear during the Phantom Farms discussion to answer neighbors’ questions about parking counts. The council approved the Phantom Farms license with the stated condition; further operational details and enforcement plans were left to follow‑up between council staff and the police department.
The council’s conditional approval means the vendor fair can proceed on May 9 provided the police detail and any required promoter’s permits and insurance are arranged; the council asked staff to report back after the event on any enforcement issues or changes needed for future licenses.
