Changes proposed for San Joaquin County fireworks ordinance after 2016 Woodbridge display
More than a year after an unannounced — and, for some, unwelcome — fireworks display at a private event lit the skies over most of Woodbridge, new changes to San Joaquin County’s firework ordinance have been proposed.
Changes to the ordinance include new definitions for fireworks, public displays of fireworks and salute fireworks along with the requirement of an improvement plan and special use regulations for residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial zones.
Public displays of fireworks would require approval of an improvement plan two weeks prior to the event and a fire permit to be submitted with every plan. The proposed regulations also require that all property owners notify adjacent property owners of the details of the public display of fireworks, such as date, time and length of time the display will take place.
The county’s community development department will also be required to notify property owners in writing a minimum of one week prior to the public display of fireworks. County staff will also be required to notify the appropriate municipal advisory council in writing a minimum of one week prior to the display date if a public display of fireworks is proposed on a parcel within their district.
At a private event hosted at a Woodbridge property in 2016, a thunderous fireworks display caught neighbors off guard. Woodbridge resident Mary Avanti, who lived a mile away from the show, said she felt her windows vibrating that evening.
“I felt like they were in my backyard” Woodbridge resident Tasso Kandris said. “They were literally shaking our home, our windows were rattling. It was going on for more than a half an hour, and everybody in the neighborhood couldn’t figure out what the heck it was.”
According to residents, the event drew a large crowd and parked vehicles made the roadway so congested that public safety officials struggled to get through.
Since that incident, Woodbridge residents have been pushing for changes to the ordinance, and for the most part are pleased with what has been proposed.
Avanti said she is pleased that salute fireworks have been defined in writing.
“We didn’t have that before, and we have it now. As a result of defining it, this is what will bring about the change to the firework events,” Avanti said.
Avanti said the special regulations were necessary because in the past those looking to have displays only had to file for a permit but weren’t required to give any additional notifications or information about the event that would be taking place. The proposed special regulations would change that.
“It gives the people in the area an opportunity to be informed.
This is a good thing, this is what we rallied for,” she said.
Avanti said she would still like to see the county address traffic control and parking during these events.
“One of the things we put in the request was that if you have a private event that you check it out with the sheriff and make sure that there is ample parking instead of using public streets and roadways for parking,” Avanti said.
Another Woodbridge resident, Julie Ball, was also pleased with the changes.
“It’s everything that’s on my wish list. If we could only get people to stop illegally using the fireworks, that would be great,” Ball said. “What we’re hoping for is that whoever is having these events actually have some accountability for emergency situations such as an evacuation plan, traffic control and restrictions for parking.”
The commenting period for these changes will end May 1 and the changes are scheduled to go before the county’s planning commission on May 3.