Residents weigh in on upcoming music festival in Charlottetown

TheDowntown Charlottetown Residents Association held a meeting to discuss the upcomingSunDaze Music and Art Festival, Wednesday night.

The music festival is expected to take place on Aug. 23 and 24 at Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown.

We don't see there being any big issues. Sam Murphy

The festival was originally planned to take placeatOyster Bed Bridge but was forced to berelocated after issues with rezoning requirements were raised.

In addition, residents in theOyster Bed area were vocal about their complaints surrounding the festival and started a petition.

Festival organizer Sam Murphysayshe was satisfied with the meeting and felt itaddressedissues of traffic and crowd control.

"It was great having Sean Coombs here from city police he has a great plan for after the festival ... we don't see there being any issues," Murphysaid.

Crowd control

Police plan tohelp direct people away from the park once the festival is over, said Sean Coombs, deputy chief withCharlottetown Police.

Crowd control was themain concern for Judy Gallant, a long-time downtown resident. She said her concerns came from previous incidents she had experienced in the past.

It's moreorganized and I'm pleased with this. Judy Gallant

"There was some damage done to people's properties and a lot of noise," Gallant said.

"I really, really do believe this one's going to be a lot better and it's moreorganized and I'm pleased with this," she said.

As a means to address crowd control, two security companies are expected to work the event, Murphy said.

Plans to minimize noise

The event grounds will also be arranged differently than festivals held there in previous years, Murphy said.

"The stage is now facing the mouth of the Charlottetown Harbour sowe seeit being a lot less hard noise, I guess, coming into the city," he said.

In the past, festivalshad arranged the stage toface the downtown core.

Murphy said the event was also planned to end around the same time as outdoor live music venues in the city.

"Just like any other establishment in Charlottetown that has outdoormusic,it shuts down at 11."

Organizers are expectingclose to 3,000 people for the event.

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