Dorney wants to streamline ride approval process

[GAcoaster]

From The Morning Call:

 

Dorney wants to streamline ride approval process

Park's owners say delays give their competitors an edge.

By Sarah Fulton

October 6, 2008

 

Every time Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom wants to add a new ride it has to get permission from South Whitehall Township.

 

Cedar Fair, its parent company, says the process is not only time-consuming, but gives competitors an early heads-up on its latest plans to thrill parkgoers.

 

That's why Cedar Fair went before township commissioners last week to discuss ways to speed up the process.

 

''By the time we get through the process, Hershey and Great Adventure know what we have to do,'' said attorney Joseph Bubba, who represents Cedar Fair.

 

In the past, Cedar Fair has had to approach the township each time it wanted to erect a major ride within the park. For example, last year the company went before the township to gain approval to erect its newest roller coaster, Voodoo, which opened for the 2008 season. The township would then hold a conditional-use hearing, slowing down the process.

 

The proposed zoning change Cedar Fair is requesting would simplify regulation and development by allowing the park to erect rides within a specific stretch of land without having to gain conditional-use approval from commissioners for each individual ride. Cedar Fair proposes dividing the park into three zones. One zone would be reserved as a buffer, another would be restricted to rides measuring 30 feet tall or shorter and the third area would be reserved for tall rides. A tall ride height limit has not been set. The rides are measured from sea level and not from their bases.

 

However, the rides would still have to gain land development approval, which is typically a three-month process, Township Manager Gerald Gasda said.

 

Also, the company wants two parcels rezoned from residential to Commercial-Recreation to match the rest of the park. However, those parcels will not be used for ride construction as they abut roads and residential areas. One of the areas, located along Walnut Street, is home to a maintenance building. The other area, along Haines Mill Road, is currently used as a green buffer between the park and a neighborhood.

 

Commissioners directed Bubba to present his request to the township Planning Commission. Planners will review it and make a recommendation to the commissioners, who can then vote to approve or reject the changes.

 

''Fundamentally, I think this makes a lot of sense,'' Commissioner Howard Ellsworth said.

[warnerleroy]

It gives Hershey and Great Adventure an edge..... don't see any problem in that

 

 

[Yoshi]

I hope it happens, I remember they had to go for the approval to build a Tornado for WWK for the 2007 season. Then they cancelled it because it was later discovered Hershey was getting the same slide for 2007. I'm still shocked Voodoo was approved with the noise and how close residents are to the park.