The movement for entertainment/art zones in the City of Williamsport appears to be on the fast track.
The Williamsport Planning Commission last week recommended City Council approval of three entertainment/art zones in the city and the proposal goes to council for consideration this week.
The zones include a primary section in the downtown area, not confined just to the Central Business District, a portion of West Fourth and Arch streets in the Newberry section and part of Washington Boulevard in the city's East End.
The potential for such zones is obvious. Arts and entertainment create energy and business and give the city fresh appeal. The city has a thriving arts community and a solid array of restaurants that are also cut out for this entertainment zoning.
It seems to us that the keys to making this work and preserving neighborhood integrity lie in strictly defining the arts and entertainment zoning boundary lines.
There are places these zones work and places they don't.
A one-block mistake in drawing where amplified music and outdoor bands can perform can matter a lot.
Police will be in charge of enforcing the correct use of the entertainment zones.
Strict guidelines on what is allowed in the zones and where they are allowed will keep police from being the heavy in the enforcement of the zones.
But on balance, if the guidelines are clear and the boundaries thought out with practicality, the entertainment zone idea deserves to move forward.
