West Hartford Will Withdraw and Resubmit Entertainment Ordinance

Town Manger Ron Van Winkle said that the town has determined that the ordinance proposed on Tuesday requires too many changes to be amended.

West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

A proposing zoning ordinance that included an 11 p.m. music curfew, proposed Tuesday night and set for public hearing in October, will be withdrawn and resubmitted Town Manager Ron Van Winkle said Friday.

“We’re not just amending it because there are significant enough changes that it requires a new ordinance to be submitted,” Van Winkle said.

One key amendment include revising the curfew from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Van Winkle said that after the initial ordinance was proposed, and a firestorm of criticism erupted over the 11 p.m. curfew, he spoke with Mike Ladden, owner of McLadden’s and the soon-to-open Noble & Co. on LaSalle Road. “Mike said his bands don’t even come on until 10:30,” Van Winkle said.

Another important difference will be that the town will not plan to charge for an entertainment license. “We’re not doing this for money,” Van Winkle said.

In addition, when a license is awarded it will be valid as long as the business ownership remains constant.

That doesn’t make the entertainment license an ineffective control, however. “There will be a process if the business doesn’t meet the criteria,” Van Winkle said.

The original ordinance is one that the town “has been holding onto for a while,” Van Winkle said. The 11 p.m. curfew was put in by the corporation counsel as a placeholder, with the expectation that it could be amended after discussion. The time was purposely set early to use as a starting point.

“That time really lit everyone up,” Van Winkle said, but he thinks that’s a good thing because it got residents thinking and talking about the issue.

“We’re always wrestling with enjoying the Center but keeping that balance with residents,” he said. “Restaurants need to understand that they also need to work with us to keep everyone safe.”

Van Winkle said the new ordinance will be presented to the Town Council at its Oct. 25 meeting, and set for public hearing in November. Before the draft is finalized, he and other town officials will be meeting with restaurants in the Center to get their input, Van Winkle said.

Having an entertainment ordinance, which has worked effectively in places like Danbury and Hartford, is important, Van Winkle said.

It will allow the town to “control undue, abnormal, and excessive problems. We will be able to pull the license and the music will go away,” Van Winkle said.

Adopting the entertainment ordinance will give the town a “saber rattle,” said Van Winkle.

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