BY CHRISTINA ASSI

The popular outdoor Orange City market, known as the Moose Market, will return Sept. 30.

The Orange City Council voted 4-1 in favor at a meeting Sept. 13. 

Orange City Mayor Gary A. Blair was the lone dissenting vote — City Council Member Kellianne Marks recused herself from the vote because she runs the market and made the original application, and Council Member Casandra Jones was absent.

There are projected to be 30 vendors with the hope of 500 participants, set to take place at 300 S. Volusia Ave. 

The event will run on a six to eight-week trial basis to start with.

“It would probably take six weeks to determine what the report would be,” City Manager Dale Arrington said, referring to the trial period. 

Other conditions of the market include prohibiting parking on the right of way of yards and private property, required fire inspection prior to every event, music speakers facing away from homes, and several blockout dates to accommodate city and school events. 

Mayor Blair was the primary opponent of the Moose Market as he repeatedly expressed concerns for those who live in the area of 300 S. Volusia Ave., as Blair himself does. He also read emails from residents of the area who are opposed. 

“Every resident in that neighborhood is concerned about the drugs,” Blair said. “It’s a problem, because it creates a nuisance.”

Vice Mayor Bill O’Connor suggested tabling the special event application for the Moose Market for a later time. 

But Marks insisted that if it were tabled, it would not be revisited. 

“The fall is the time to go to the market,” Marks said.

Council Member Alex Tiamson expressed support for the Moose Market and explained how tabling it would not be giving it a fair shot. 

“I don’t think it’s equitable for us to just shut it down,” Tiamson said.

The Moose Market is projected to make its grand reopening Sept. 30 and will continue during the trial period until the City Council revisits it again.