Select Board adopts Parker River Landing fee schedule after rejecting steeper for‑profit deposit amendment

After reopening a second public hearing on the proposed fee schedule for the new Parker River Landing event parcel, the Yarmouth Select Board voted to adopt licensing and reservation fees on May 12.

Staff presented the proposed tiered schedule: nonprofit license fees and for‑profit fees for May–October and November–April seasons, modest reservation deposits and a refundable security deposit. The proposed daily license was $900/day for nonprofits in season and $1,800/day for for‑profit entities (with lower off‑season rates), and a $100 reservation deposit and a $250 security deposit were proposed for both nonprofit and for‑profit uses.

Select Board member Liz (first name only in the record) voiced concern that a $100 reservation deposit and $250 security deposit might be too low for for‑profit events and moved an amendment to raise the for‑profit reservation deposit to $300 and the security deposit to $500. The amendment received a second but failed on a roll call (members voiced opposition). The board then voted to accept the fee schedule as presented by staff; the motion passed.

No formal appeals were recorded at the hearing. An online commenter (Megan) tuned in and staff thanked her for participating.

Town staff said the schedule is a starting point and acknowledged it may be adjusted in the future; the board and staff signaled flexibility to revisit the fees based on market experience and operational outcomes.

The adopted schedule will become part of the licensing terms for use of the Parker River Landing event parcel; staff will implement the reservation and licensing procedures through the town’s park licensing processes.