Planning director: fireworks hours tied to Dance Festopia should follow code; some commissioners resist extensions

Kenny Cook, Miami County planning director, told commissioners that a vendor has applied to use approximate pyrotechnics (light and flame effects) as part of Dance Festopia on the Wildwood property and is requesting extended hours on multiple nights. Cook said the county's code generally prohibits fireworks outside typical holiday periods and that the normal cutoff is 11 p.m.; the vendor is seeking an extension to 11:15 p.m. Thursday, 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:50 a.m. Sunday-Monday.

Cook noted the event operates under a conditional use permit granted more than a decade ago, which limits the county's ability to impose new conditions unless the permit is modified, and said staff will present the permit/extension request to the board for formal action this afternoon. A commissioner who receives many calls from residents said they preferred keeping the 11 p.m. cutoff to reduce neighborhood impacts. Mark Whalen, who described his on-site safety role for the event, said he monitors compliance and can shut activities down if safety concerns arise.