Hempfield policy requires 45-day notice before block parties

A new policy regulating block parties in Hempfield is going into effect.

The measure township supervisors approved Monday will require 45-day notice of an event, replacing the previous seven days.

Public works director Austin Erhard came up with the policy a couple months ago after supervisors questioned a couple block party permits that came before the board for a vote this summer. The policy provides guidelines for permit holder responsibilities, including the management of barricades supplied by the township to close a road.

Erhard said during discussion of the new policy this summer that it requires residents receive consent from their neighbors through a petition. Anyone applying for a permit will be subject to a $50 fee. There has not been a fee in the past.

“The idea is that you can’t use this permit because you’re having a graduation party and your family’s coming into town and you want them to be able to park all over the road, so you can’t close the public street down for your private party,” he said. “The idea of a block party is to have community engagement.”

Block party permit applications can be filled out on the township website. They’ll be updated with the policy, he said.