Lake Placid board approves five‑year special exception for Big Bang Fireworks tent sales

The Town of Lake Placid Board of Adjustment voted May 4 to approve LPBOA‑26001, allowing Big Bang Fireworks to operate two seasonal tent sales per year at a secondary location in the town's C‑1 Highway Commercial District. The board approved staff conditions including a 40‑by‑60‑foot tent size limit, a restriction that the tent occupy parking spaces only (no drive‑aisle encroachment), a limit of 31 consecutive days and no more than 62 days per calendar year, required permits, and a certificate of insurance naming the town as additional insured.

Dana Riddell, the town planner, presented the staff report and described the application materials and public‑notice steps. "The applicant proposes to conduct 2 seasonal tent sales per year," Riddell said, and staff noted the applicant withdrew a primary site and now requests approval only for the secondary location shown on the site plan. Riddell told the board the tent and associated operation must comply with the C‑1 zoning requirements and that staff expected the tent operation to impact about 15 parking spaces (13 for the 40x60 tent and two for the storage container).

Riddell recommended a five‑year approval based on the applicant's compliance last year but reminded the board that future approvals could be revoked if conditions are violated. She summarized operational conditions that must be met before operation, including permits from Highlands County Fire Rescue and the Highlands County Building Department, adherence to town sign rules (section 1‑54‑15), and lighting controls to avoid glare.

Rich Irvin, who said he represents Big Bang Fireworks, asked the board to approve the five‑year exception and to allow the storage container. "We didn't have any issues last year with that container... We feel that the storage container would be a lot safer than that [a box truck]," Irvin said, adding the container previously occupied two parking spaces and that the company intends to operate safely and in compliance.

Several public speakers urged approval. Will Greer, representing the Lake Placid Athletic Association, said Big Bang had committed to give 10% of sales from its Lake Placid tent sale to the association: "When we support Big Bang Fireworks, we're supporting our kids, our schools, and the future of Lake Placid," Greer said. Employee Toya Addison said she has worked for Justin Driggers for 15 years and vouched for the company's community investment.

Board members asked staff why the town was not seeking indemnification in a written agreement; Riddell said there was insufficient time to draft and bring an indemnification agreement to town council and that, for now, the certificate of insurance requirement would be used. The board discussed whether approvals should be concurrent with another fireworks vendor's existing multi‑year approval and were told approvals are site‑specific.

After discussion the chair moved to approve the staff recommendation as presented; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote with Dr. Ochsner, Gary Freeman and Dustin Woods voting yes. The approval includes the site, the operational conditions summarized by staff, the time limits on tent operation, the insurance requirement and the allowance for one storage container limited to two parking spaces. The special exception will expire on 05/04/2031 unless revoked earlier for noncompliance.

The meeting concluded with a discussion of board vacancies and reappointments; staff will contact members about interest in continued service. The board then adjourned.