Allan Appel File Photo
Asked to consider alcohol prohibition at Lighthouse Point Park, the City Plan Commission had this advice: get more advice.
At its monthly meeting on Wednesday night, the commission considered a proposal by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Trees. The proposal would amend city ordinances to prohibit all alcoholic beverages at Lighthouse Point Park, which is the only public park in New Haven where drinking is currently allowed.
The commission voted to recommend that the parks department consult with the police department and city corporation counsel and then rework the proposal. Commissioners cited concerns about enforcement and unreasonable restriction of casual drinkers.
The proposed ordinance amendment is the brainchild of East Shore Alderwoman Arlene DePino, who is also a parks commissioner. She floated the booze ban last July, saying that drunken picknickers are creating trouble at the park.
In November, the Board of Parks Commissioners voted 4 – 3 to submit the proposal to the Board of Aldermen, which then sent it to the City Plan Commission for a recommendation. The commission has a say in the matter since it concerns city parkland.
On Wednesday night, City Plan Department head Karyn Gilvarg raised several concerns about the proposed legislation. The ordinance amendment would allow beer and wine inside the park’s carousel building during permitted events when a New Haven police officer is present. Gilvarg said she is concerned about the additional financial burden that requirement would place on people renting the carousel building. They would have to pay for an extra-duty officer.
Gilvarg said she is also “concerned for law-abiding folks that have a beer at a picnic and don’t have another place” to drink. She suggested that the language of the ordinance needs some tweaking.
“It does raise some equity issues,” said commission chair Ed Mattison. “People with backyards can drink as much as they want in their backyards.”
City Engineer Dick Miller said the difficulty in drafting the ordinance is how to allow one or two beers while not allowing “all day long drinking.”
Enforcement will also be a challenge, said Commissioner Audrey Tyson (at left in photo). “It’s going to be very difficult.”
Thomas MacMillan Photo
East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker (center), a new commissioner, agreed that enforcement is key. There are problems with litter in the park “but we don’t ban paper cups,” Elicker said.
Gilvarg suggested that the commission recommend that the the parks department consult with the police department and city corporation counsel “to get enforceable language.”
Mattison agreed with the suggestion. An ordinance that can’t be enforced could be worse than no ordinance, he argued. “One thing you don’t want, you don’t want widespread civil disobedience.”
The commission voted unanimously to advise the parks department to get more advice and re-draft the proposal.
The Board of Aldermen’s Legislation Committee will consider the proposal on March 8.