Features
Oakdale Theatre Permit Changes OKed
A dispute between the Toyota Oakdale Theatre and the city of Wallingford, Conn., that resulted in a cease-and-desist threatening to shutter the venue appears to be resolved with the approval by planning and zoning officials of changes to the town permit.
The Wallingford commission voted unanimously July 13 to lift the C&D and allow shows in the Dome portion of the 4,560-capacity venue, but not concurrently with other shows in the main theatre.
It also imposed an 11:30 p.m. curfew on Sunday-Thursday shows at the Live Nation-operated venue. It must close by midnight Fridays and Saturdays. A 100-decibel limit anywhere inside the theatre, parking improvements and traffic mitigation plans are included in the changes, according to the Hartford Courant.
The town issued the cease-and-desist order in December after receiving complaints from immediate neighbors of the Oakdale. Live Nation NE President Jimmy Koplik said at the time that Live Nation and the town were both eager to resolve the situation and were negotiating changes to a permit that allowed no sound to emanate from the building. Joan Molloy, an attorney for Live Nation, told the Courant the venue has lost bookings because of artist concerns over the C&D, which was the result of complaints of “one or two” neighbors.
Live Nation has already addressed some of the noise concerns by voluntarily lowering decibel limits on shows and installing sound doors.