Denver Direct: Parks Department considers business on public property
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Parks Department considers business on public property
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is setting up a stakeholder group to develop what’s termed a Commercial Use Policy. The consideration of such a policy comes after some business enterprises requested a structure to be allowed to use public park property for profit-making enterprises, such as exercise classes.
DPR’s Director of Special Projects, Dody Erickson, says the stakeholder group will consist of representatives for City Council, Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC), commercial groups, Parks Advisory Board members, and DPR staff.
The policy is likely to allow commercial activity, even though it would be inconsistent with INC’s “Platform for Denver’s Urban Parks,” adopted over two years ago. That platform opposes commercialization of public property in any form. Many critics also still contend that commercial use violates Section 2.4.5 of the City Charter, a prohibition on “leasing” park property.
If a Commercial Use Policy is developed, some neighborhood representatives say there are several key aspects which need to be included:
– – The city should derive the highest level of revenue possible, consistent with DPR’s cost recovery model
– – Signage is unacceptable, even if it is temporary
– – Activities involving animals, such as dog training, must be confined to designated “dog parks”
– – Commercial enterprises must comply with all the same tax, licensing, and operating requirements as other fixed business establishments
There is also concern about how to set rules limiting the number and location of commercial use permits, along with determining the duration and operating hours.
Some observers say the city of Santa Monica, California appears to be taking a lead in developing a similar policy to deal with the issue. According to The Associated Press, “City Council is considering requiring that fitness trainers who conduct workouts in Santa Monica’s parks and on its beaches pay an annual $100 fee and turn over 15 percent of their gross revenues to the city.”
Anyone with comments or concerns should contact Erickson by e-mail, [email protected]. She says the policy should be ready by February in order to set a 45-day notice for a Public Hearing by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in April.
at 6:17 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Post Comments (Atom)
Editor's note.
Submit for publication: I consider any emails I receive to be publishable unless otherwise indicated e.g. (FYI ONLY, DO NOT PUBLISH, NOT FOR PUBLICATION. ETC.) [email protected]
BLOG ARCHIVE
-
▼
2013 (346)-
▼
January (25)- Candidate Forum for Denver School Board Vacancy Ap...
- ACTIVE SHOOTER
- The Naysayer by Phil Goodstein - February, 2013
- Heads up!
- THE SEGREGATION AND RESEGREGATION OF DENVER PUBLIC...
- All Things A64 with Jessica LeRoux - January 28, 2...
- AMENDMENT 64 IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE
- Film review: Beware of Mr. Baker
- 2012 a Champion Year for Denver Area Home Sales
- School Selection Commentary
- Notes from the A64 meetings with Jessica LeRoux - ...
- Toward developing a commercial use policy for Denv...
- Denver Slated to Lose Critical Natural Area
- MLK Marade - January 21, 2013
- All Things MJ with Jessica LeRoux - January 20, 20...
- Notes from the A64 meetings by Jessica LeRoux
- Ginger Baker documentary opens in Denver on Friday...
- and is Gun Control a Red Herring?
- Hentzell Park Natural Area decision unjustified
- All things MJ with Jessica LeRoux - January 8, 201...
- Parks and Recreation Advisory Board resignation
- The Naysayer - January 2013 by Phil Goodstein
- Parks Department considers business on public prop...
- Hentzell Natural Area to be de-designated
- Walkabout - January 1, 2013
-
CONTACT US
Got a tip? Information? Press release? Contact us by email -Editor@DenverDirect.tv
Who we are:
Editor
Gerald Trumbule
Featured Contributors
Linda Drake
CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
All of the work on this site, including the original YouTube videos by www.DenverDirect.tv, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Click on the symbol above for explanation.
0 comments:
Post a Comment