Musicians who perform in bars and tasting rooms across Solvang can look forward to dropping their mics with less micromanagement if the city clears a recent permitting proposal.
During its first meeting of November, the Solvang Planning Commission endorsed staff’s recommendation to instate an official temporary use permits policy, which is “alluded to in zoning code,” but not formally documented otherwise, according to the staff report.
“[It] was originally codified in ’88, … but, for whatever reason, disappeared, and I don’t know why,” Solvang Planning and Building Manager Rafael Castillo said at the Planning Commission’s Nov. 4 meeting.
The proposed policy streamlines the application process for hosts of events with amplified or acoustic music, as well as other events, including seasonal pop-ups—such as pumpkin patches and Christmas tree lots.
Castillo described the music subsection as a crucial component, and “a direct response to multiple requests about amplified music” from the public and local business owners.
“We’re just really trying to take into account what I’ve heard; what we’ve heard over the last year or two,” said Castillo, who explained that local venues would be able to apply for one temporary use permit to cover weekly or ongoing music events for a year before a renewal’s required.
The temporary use permit route also speeds up approvals for some music events, as Solvang businesses are currently required to obtain a conditional use permit to host live music, whether its indoors or outdoors, thanks to an ordinance the Solvang City Council passed in 2021.
While conditional use permits require review from the Solvang Planning Commission during a formal meeting, a temporary use permit can be approved by the planning manager without a public hearing.
“We’re making this change because this is for the greater good of our own economy and helping out our businesses,” Castillo said. “[We’re] trying to streamline it as much as possible.”
Staff’s recommended policy includes several criteria that music events must meet to be eligible for the temporary use permit, including decibel restrictions and other rules related to Solvang’s noise standards.
The temporary use permit option is geared toward local restaurants, bars, tasting rooms, and other businesses that host complimentary live music, while concerts that charge a fee for entry are not eligible for the permit and need to follow separate procedures for city approval.
With a 4-0 vote at the Nov. 4 meeting, the Solvang Planning Commission agreed to recommend the policy, which will move forward to the Solvang City Council for final approval. Planning Commissioner Joannie Jamieson was absent.
This article appears in Nov 7-17, 2024.