The Waterville City Council held a special meeting Monday for the second of three readings, and as with previous meetings on the subject, a packed crowd attended.
WATERVILLE, Ohio — The debate over whether to build an amphitheater in Waterville continues.
The Waterville City Council held a special meeting Monday night for the second of three readings, and as with previous meetings on the subject, a packed crowd attended.
In a couple of weeks, voting will take place not at the music venue, but at a special planning commission voted 3-2 on September 12 in favor construction of an amphitheater.
Waterville residents with opinions about the development are still making their voices heard. Some people see it as a positive for the area, while others think it’s just not right for the community.
Residents who oppose are concerned about noise, traffic and safety, among other issues.
“As soon as I heard that alcohol was going to be served, it’s not part of what Waterville is about. It’s not like our community. It’s not what I want for our kids,” said Waterville resident Julie Ryan.
Meanwhile, other residents are excited about all the potential it could bring.
“Other developments, like retail, have their own risks,” said Waterville resident Kyle Yazwecki. “In 10 years, the mall may be dead, like many in the area. I see entertainment as something that is sustainable, something that will be in high demand in the future.”
Waterville continues to grow, and some residents see the plot of land inevitably filling up eventually.
Some residents who live in the subdivision behind the proposed facility said they don’t mind something going there, and they don’t mind Waterville growing. But they oppose an amphitheater that can hold more people than the Huntington Center.
Since the planning commission approved the permit, there are several conditions that project developers Hunter Brooks, Chris Campbell and John Henry must meet in order for the project to proceed before the Oct. 11 vote:
- The maximum capacity is 9300 people
- Total working time with a financial penalty for exceeding this time
- Traffic flow control
- Detailed site plan
- An additional lane to accommodate the increased traffic
- Approval of the developers’ public safety plan is required
- Set the entry tax
- Limiting the number of events
Also added at Monday’s meeting were 10 more conditions that require developer approval before they can be opened.
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