The City of Germantown is taking legal action after a house party in July at a private residence.
The suburb has filed an injunction for a hearing with the Shelby County Chancellor regarding a single-family residence at 3371 Forest Hill Irene Road being “used and marketed as an event and entertainment venue.” The home hosted what the city dubbed a “commercial event” on July 21, according to the legal documents filed. Germantown said the unauthorized event was advertised to include an admission charge and the unlicensed sale of alcoholic beverages.
Germantown is looking to schedule a hearing on the matter before the Shelby County Chancellor by mid-August.
The documents name Tyisha Jones as the resident and defendant in the case. Jones is listed as the owner of the Forest Hill Irene Road home, which is across the street from Forest Hill Elementary School. Despite the property being zoned for residential purposes, Jones has converted the property into a business operation, according to the documents.
Attempts to reach Jones Friday evening were unsuccessful.
The property has been marketed on social media as an “outdoor venue” center available for hosting “weddings, family reunions, birthday parties, and festivals,” the city says, and has been advertised as “The Yard @Germantown.”
According to legal documents, Germantown officials received information from concerned residents that Jones would be using the property to host the “Reposado Festival Part 2” event on July 21, with prices ranging up to $70 per ticket. Germantown police contacted Jones to inform her that the ticketed event was in violation of several of the suburb’s ordinances, the city said, and she was told by law enforcement that her plan for guest parking across the street at Forest Hill Elementary School was not allowed.
Jones said she would refund all ticket sales and host the event as a private party but she did not refund any ticket sales and conducted the event as a for-profit enterprise, the complaint states.
Since the event, documents said, several residents of the neighborhood have complained to the city administration about the event, including about noise and congestion.
Legal documents cite social media posts showing alcohol being served, musical acts performing and several hundred people in attendance.
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To address the use of the property, the city administration along with Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo has been working with the city’s attorney, police department and economic and community development and code enforcement.
“Adherence to city and county ordinances and state law that are meant to protect the quiet enjoyment of residential neighborhoods is paramount,” Palazzolo said. “Taking action to enforce the code ensures that events on private property do not conflict with the intent of our neighborhood zoning.”
Details for another Reposado Festival on Sept. 21 have been posted on social media, although the location is listed as TBD.
Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Germantown house party: City takes legal action. What’s next?
