The Christmas Spectacular show will apparently go on.
By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
CRANBURY — The Christmas Spectacular show will apparently go on.
Beginning another chapter in the Christmas Spectacular saga, resident Keith Shaw said the show at his North Main Street home will go on, albeit with a few modifications.
”We were very disappointed in the (Zoning Board of Adjustment’s) outcome and we were going to pursue further legal action,” Mr. Shaw said earlier this year, before the township approached him to work out an agreement.
The annual Christmas Spectacular, in which Mr. Shaw conducts musically choreographed light shows on his front lawn to raise money for charitable purposes, has been a hotbed of controversy in recent months.
Several of his neighbors say the display negatively impacts their quality of life during the holidays, bringing an excessive amount of traffic to the neighborhood, as well as loud music and flashing lights that can be seen and heard inside their homes.
Having received complaints during the December 2012 show, Township Zoning Officer Jeff Graydon viewed Mr. Shaw’s display and found four potential violations.
He issued Mr. Shaw an advisory notice on Feb. 23.
Mr. Shaw’s appeal of Mr. Graydon’s interpretation was heard by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which ruled on Oct. 2 that Mr. Shaw’s display would be in violation of several zoning codes if he put it up the same way this year.
The township and Mr. Shaw, however, have reached an agreement that will allow the show and take into account the neighbors as well, Mr. Shaw said.
The biggest change to this year’s program, Mr. Shaw said, is the number of days the shows will run with music and choreography.
Instead of running for 30 days, the lights will dance to the music for 20 days. On days when there will be no music or choreography, all the lights will be on.
The display will be lit from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly, beginning tonight, with the choreographed musical kickoff on Dec. 5.
This year will also feature Grammy-nominated singer singer-songwriter Judy Pancoast, who will be performing on Dec. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m.
A detailed schedule of when the lights will dance to music can be found at Mr. Shaw’s website, www.cranburychristmaslights.com.
Choreographed to more than 15 different songs, Mr. Shaw’s display features more than 100,000 lights, according to his website.
Another difference this year is with the on-street parking available to people who come to view the display.
Parking in front of the Shaw’s house and directly across the street from their house will not be allowed, Mr. Shaw said.
Parking will be available north and south of the Shaw’s house, as well as on nearby Barclay Street.
”People coming out to see the show can watch from our front lawn,” Mr. Shaw said.
The website also recommends carpooling as a way to reduce the amount of traffic created by people coming to see the display.
In an effort to address Officer Graydon’s concerns about the display, Mr. Shaw said that any signs used this year are very small and conform to zoning standards.
”We feel that we have addressed every issue in the zoning hearing,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Shaw said that he has gone beyond the concerns of the zoning board to address the concerns of his neighbors.
The speakers to broadcast the music will be facing away from the street and towards his house this year, Mr. Shaw said, in an attempt to minimize the spillover of the music into the street.
He has also taken down the Google Maps application from his website that directs people from as far away as Philadelphia and New York City to his house, he said.
”We tried to do everything we possibly could to make this a livable situation for the Gordons (his across-the-street neighbors),” Mr. Shaw said, “While at the same time being able to protect our rights and help those who need the help.”
The Christmas Spectacular will be held at Mr. Shaw’s home at 128 N. Main Street.