FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio (WJW) - After years of growing crowds and a rise in complaints, the annual light show in Fairview Park is getting new rules this holiday season which are actually tied to already existing city codes.
A meeting to review plans and get feedback from residents was held Thursday night at 7 p.m. at city hall.
“We want everyone to be happy, we want everyone to enjoy the holiday lights because we have to make sure we keep everyone safe,” said Mayor Bill Schneider.
Police chief Paul Shepard says the city began discussing implementing changes and enforcing current laws after a record number of complaints from residents last Christmas.
The festive show on Seabury Avenue has always attracted families, but in recent years has begun also seeing party buses with alcohol and limousines.
“Parking complaints, disturbances, being rude to the residents, people trespassing, people going into backyards to urinate and it came to a head where something had to be done,” said Shepard.
According to the city, the neighborhood has become a destination since the pandemic, seeing between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors.
The Seabury Lights are not sponsored by the city, but rather the neighborhood and has become a nonprofit raising money for different charities.
“The people who are for it will be concerned about losing that magic," said Bill McVicker, founder of the holiday tradition.
Here are some of the changes being implemented to help curb the problematic issues.
The biggest issue is that the sidewalks and road cannot have any obstructions per Fairview Park City Ordinances 543.07 and 301.32.
That means the street's beloved lighted arches won’t be able to be installed as usual and would have to be moved onto someone's lawn.
Neighbor Sue Evans called it unfortunate but said she also understands and hopes the situation can somehow be remedied for next season.
“I just hope they don’t stop doing the lights because it is such a joy,” said Evans.
The lights and music will now have a nightly scheduled start time of 5 p.m. and off time of 11 p.m.
They’re asking the “Elf Tent” attraction to go on a rotating schedule to also help alleviate congestion.
Multiple parking restrictions will be enforced including no parking a vehicle on a sidewalk, curb, street or lawn, in front of a driveway, within an intersection, within ten feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk and/or within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
Extra "no trespassing" signage will also be posted.
“To inform the public how to act when you visit Fairview Park,” said the chief. “No trespassing, don’t walk in people's yards intoxicated, no open containers and just be respectful.”
Additionally, bus and limousine companies have already been contacted and warned that no large buses are permitted on residential streets.
Smaller vans with 20 or fewer people will be allowed.
Residents are also encouraged to keep decorations out of reach of people to avoid thefts.
The chief says they still want people to put up lights, but they must be also able to ensure the public's safety.
“We want them to decorate their houses. We want them to decorate their yards. They just can't decorate in the public right of way,” said the chief.
Officials encouraged residents to regroup after the holidays to look into ways to work with the city on possibly amending the ordinances and allowing for the arches to return to their original location.