Council approves America's Mountain Festival TUP with conditions after residents raise safety, noise concerns

Woodland Park City Council approved a temporary use permit for the America's Mountain Music Festival on July 11 but attached 20 conditions intended to address public-safety, noise and compatibility concerns raised by residents.

Staff explained the festival application by Derek Wagner (Tava House Properties LLC) sought a one-day music event with setup and cleanup spanning July 8–13, artist performances between 1:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., and provision of approximately 675 parking spaces (including Woodland Park High School). Because the city received complaints in May and June, the application required council review rather than only administrative approval. Planning staff recommended conditions covering complaint responsiveness, liability insurance naming the city as additional insured, sanitation and trash management, vendor licensing, fire and tent standards, traffic and parking coordination, and noise restrictions consistent with municipal code; generators were to be turned off by 11:30 p.m. and event lighting was required to be downcast and shielded.

During the public hearing neighbors urged more detailed emergency planning and sound management. Public commenter Arie Sparnins said large outdoor events need written severe-weather evacuation routes and shelter locations and requested the city require a written emergency plan. Sparnins also urged a clear plan to reimburse city public-safety costs to the organizer. Ken Brown, representing Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church, asked that council create a break between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. to avoid disrupting Saturday Mass; the applicant said a set change may create a natural lull but he could not commit to a full shutdown because of contractual artist obligations and encouraged further dialogue with the church.

Applicant Derek Wagner described changes from last year — moving vendor spaces and adjusting the stage orientation — and said complaints were subjective and without documented violations. Wagner told council he can provide communications to ticket holders via text/email and would create an emergency plan; he also said he does not plan to use generators during morning setup and that generators used for lighting and egress would be located in the field away from homes.

Council discussion acknowledged concerns about noise and community character but noted the application must be judged against the Unified Development Code. When put to a vote the motion to approve the TUP with the recommended conditions passed 4–1 (Council member Gear voted no). Councilmember Jeff said he remains concerned about the event’s suitability in a central-town location and the potential for growth in scale; other council members emphasized applying code criteria and working on future code changes through a work session.

Next steps: staff and the applicant will finalize the event’s required documents and conditions prior to the July 11 event; council directed staff to schedule a work session to address noise and special-event safety more broadly.

Representative quotes: "I would encourage the city to require a written severe-weather and evacuation plan before the event takes place," said public commenter Arie Sparnins. "We are neighbors to everybody…we can put something together" the applicant Derek Wagner said regarding emergency plans.

Ending: The TUP was approved with conditions intended to limit noise, require safety and sanitation measures, and clarify liability and parking arrangements. Council also signaled interest in a future work session on special-event criteria.