THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510200186
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GREG GOLDFARB, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
Dennis Borgerding doesn't take lightly his role as president of the Salem Lakes Civic League.
That's why, with the opening of the new $17.5 million Virginia Beach amphitheater less than six months away, he's pushing city officials harder than ever to continue addressing potential traffic, security and loud music concerns, before they become problems.
``We have been working with the city, but we want to make sure that everything is done right so there is no negative impact on our neighborhood,'' he said.
Salem Lakes, which is home to about 1,200 families, is one of several communities learning to live next door to what is being described as ``the largest world-class entertainment facility in southeastern Virginia,'' now under construction behind Princess Anne Park near the intersection of Princess Anne and Landstown roads.
Approved by City Council last spring and with a site dedication ceremony planned for noon Tuesday, the amphitheater is set to open April 1. The outdoor theater is being built under terms of a 30-year business agreement between the city and Cellar Door Productions Inc., a Virginia Beach concert promotion company.
When completed, the amphitheater will offer reserved seating for 7,500 people, with lawn seating for another 12,500 for a total attendance capacity of 20,000. There will be 5,100 parking spaces, plus adjacent areas for overflow.
During the amphitheater's inaugural season, forty events are expected to take place from next April to October, drawing an estimated 400,000 people. The facility is projected to create about 200 new full- and part-time jobs.
The city, which owns the amphitheater, has $10.5 million in the venture and plans to recoup its investment within seven years. Annual revenue generated by the amphitheater for the city is projected at $1 million, with an overall annual economic impact to the city in excess of $8.2 million. Cellar Door leases the facility from the city and has $7 million in the deal.
With so much riding on the amphitheater's future success, Borgerding wants to make certain that the city, Cellar Door and local residents continue working together so that the newest jewel in the city's crown is, and will always be, a good neighbor.
``When we first heard about it, we were terrified,'' said Borgerding, a Navy petty officer and aviation warfare systems operator, who has lived for more than two years in Salem Lakes with his wife and two children. ``We have the peaceful right to the enjoyment of our property and we're just trying to make sure that right is maintained. But, things do go wrong. You cannot plan for every aspect. They have planned it out and I hope they're right,'' he said.
Last month, officials from the city and Cellar Door took six civic league representatives on a one-day field trip to another Cellar Door amphitheater in Northern Virginia, in an attempt to allay some of the citizens' fears about how they operate. Special attention was paid to traffic patterns around the Nissan Pavilion in Manassas, security measures, alcohol consumption and sound levels. The group liked what it saw.
``We're a lot happier than we were (before the trip),'' said Borgerding. ``I get the impression they're (the city and Cellar Door) willing to work with us.''
Borgerding's overriding concern now, he said, is how the city and Cellar Door will respond when citizens complain about artists who may increase their volume more than they are supposed to during live performances, and also, hours before the concert when musical instruments and sound systems are checked.
``Who's going to come out? We don't know,'' said Borgerding, who recently purchased his own sound meter at an electronics store. ``How long will it take them to respond? What are the logistics of it?''
As a result of his questions, Borgerding has asked that a citizens advisory committee be formed, including representatives from Cellar Door and the city, to focus solely on making the amphitheater as compatible as possible with the existing community.
Mark Wawner, the city's project development manager, said he plans to attend Salem Lakes Civic League's monthly meetings to make sure he understands the residents' concerns about the amphitheater. He stopped short of saying he will seek the formation an independent advisory committee. But that is what it will take, Borgerding said this week, to adequately deal with the multifaceted amphitheater.
``Certain problems can be dealt with easier with a group formed just for that purpose,'' said Borgerding. ``Civic leagues can't spend all their meeting time on one issue.''
Billy Douthat, a local concert promoter, said that Borgerding has good reason to worry about music levels of certain artists.
``Some of them will adhere to the sound limits, but the majority of them probably won't,'' said Douthat, who has been producing concerts in the region for 19 years and is president of Whisper Entertainment in Virginia Beach.
The more famous the artist, Douthat said, the more likely there is to be problems. And in the end, the artists usually prevail.
``You just can't control those guys,'' said Douthat. ``Besides, why would you spend $17 million to enforce sound ordinances?''
Wawner disagrees, noting that sound restrictions will be enforced and will be written into the artists' contracts, and that they will know the rules and the law before going on stage. In addition, he said, the police don't tolerate noise ordinance violations.
``The acts are very familiar with the restrictions,'' said Wawner. ``The city and Cellar Door have a significant financial stake in making this amphitheater successful.''
Sound restrictions pertaining specifically to the amphitheater are also written into the city's business agreement with Cellar Door, including compliance and enforcement guidelines that call for city zoning inspectors to measure sound levels at the amphitheater should there be citizen complaints.
``An inspector will come out that night,'' said Wawner.
Bill Reid, president of Cellar Door, said that he and his staff will constantly monitor sound levels at all events and promises to do everything possible to ensure that the amphitheater exists harmoniously with the surrounding communities.
``There may be some oddball things that might happen,'' said Reid, ``but we will monitor every concert ourselves to make sure nothing gets out of hand.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Salem Lakes, which is home to about 1,200 families, is one of
several communities learning to live next door to what is being
described as ``the largest world-class entertainment facility in
southeastern Virginia,'' now under construction behind Princess Anne
Park near the intersection of Princess Anne and Landstown roads.
by CNB