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Council questions Kite Festival permit over parking; applicant says police details and overflow parking will help
Summary
Councilors pressed the Newport Kite Festival applicant about parking and driveway-blocking problems from last year; the applicant said he hires police details and opens overflow fields, while one councilor said he would not support the permit without stronger assurances; the council voted to approve the permit.
Councilors raised strong concerns about traffic and parking at the proposed Newport Kite Festival at Brenton Point State Park, citing complaints from residents about blocked driveways and overflow parking during the previous year. Councilor Carlin said his constituents experienced “dozens and dozens” of complaints and told the applicant he would not vote for the permit unless he saw a better plan to protect residents' driveways and neighborhood parking.
Applicant Ron Kitt said he pays for the event and organizes police details and park staff to manage overflow parking, and that an organized festival with police presence reduces the worst effects of uncontrolled attendance. "When there's a organized festival, we have police details…so last year, we had two one day, three the other day," Kitt said. Chief Brian Duffy said the department will deploy its traffic unit during festival days. After discussion the council took a voice vote on the permit; the council approved the item with opposing votes recorded and asked staff to work with the applicant and the police for on-the-ground traffic management.
