Temple Crest Civic Association

 Since 1948, Celebrating 61 years of serving the 85-year-old community of Temple Crest

Nov. 1, 2007 City Council Approved Revised BUSCH GARDENS WET ZONING Ordinance

On November 1st, 2007 City Council voted to accept, WITH CONDITIONS, a Busch Gardens Wet Zoning Ordinance.  I want to thank everyone who sent e-mails, letters, faxes or called City-Council with your concerns.  I also want to thank those who were able to attend the hearing and speak out publicly.

First, you can read the proposed ordinance by clicking here. (You will need the Adobe PDF Reader to open it.  You can get a free copy of the reader at www.adobe.com )

Busch Gardens and Adventure Island received a wet zoning license that contains several conditions, limiting many of the more severe problems we anticipated with their initial petition, which was a full 4-COP license to sell beer, wine and alcohol at both Busch Gardens and Adventure Island 365 days a year all day long until 3 a.m. in all areas of both parks.

The new ordinance places the following conditions on their ability to sell alcohol:

• 1. They will still be able to sell liquor, as they always have, at the two restaurants.
• 2. Adventure Island and Busch Gardens will be able to sell beer and wine ON PREMISES IN PUBLIC AREAS ONLY at both parks.
• 3. Beer, Wine and Distilled Spirits may only be sold during special events as defined in the ordinance.
• 4. During special events, HARD LIQUOR SALES WILL END AT 11 PM.
• 5. During special events, Beer and Wine sales must end by 1:30 A.M.
• 6. PARK GUESTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUY ALCOHOL TO TAKE OUT OF THE PARK.

Our goal was to seek no modifications to the theme parks current licenses, but we realized that, during their deliberations, the majority of City-Council was seeking a compromise more than a complete ban.

But that does not mean we have to give up.  First of all, the city municipal code provides for severe punishments, including revocation to a complete dry zoning if these provisions are not followed.

AND, during my portion of public comment, I took your concerns about park noise drifting into the neighborhoods to council, reminding them that more night time events meant that the neighborhoods would be subjected to more noise pollution.  I told them that NOISE WAS ALREADY A PROBLEM and that the neighborhood would not permit Busch Gardens to ruin our quality of life by contributing to it with these additional special events.

We do have recourse, and the FORD AMPHITHEATRE noise problems and resolution are a good example.  I will seek assistance from the proper authorities if any problems arise from these changes.  SO IF NOISE, TRAFFIC, CRIME or anything else increases due to increased activities at BUSCH GARDENS or ADVENTURE ISLAND please notify me.