Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom has three more weeks to fix city code violations that could force a shutdown of the amusement park, the Planning Commission decided Tuesday.

Last month city officials told Pharaoh's that it had until Tuesday to fix many problems or face revocation of the 17-acre park's conditional-use permit, which allows it to operate. All fire code and some sign code issues have been resolved, but other infractions remain.

Commissioners told staff to report to them at their Oct. 13 meeting as to whether Pharaoh's has relocated an illegally placed fence, removed unauthorized flags and established an adequate water back-up system that will prevent the park from having to tap into the city's system again.

A majority of the commissioners said it would be unfair to force Pharaoh's officials to pay $225,000 in fees for illegally hooking up to the city's water line on two occasions.

"If these items are addressed, there's no need to revoke the (conditional) use permit," Community Development Director Jeff Shaw said. "What we're looking for is compliance."

Pharaoh's President Jim Braswell, who owns the park along with his brothers John and Art, took responsibility for the problems that occurred while William Voncarl was president of the park. Voncarl retired Sept. 1 because of health concerns, said Rich Woodhouse, vice president and general manager.

At least until their next meeting, commissioners asked that Pharaoh's not hold special events that would cause a large crowd and prohibited use of a dirt lot for overflow parking.

"If the country can forgive President Clinton, can't this commission forgive Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom," Commissioner Gerald Hanson asked.

But Commissioner Rufus "Tex" Moore questioned whether the commission should excuse Pharaoh's past violations even if the park makes the necessary improvements within three weeks.

"Problems are problems even if they are subsequently revised," Moore said. "Do we just pretend like they never happened? I'm considerably troubled that this is a pattern of behavior."

After being at odds with the park since it opened in 1996, city officials last month warned Pharaoh's officials that they could lose their permit to operate if they did not fix code violations.

Recent inspections showed that Pharoah's corrected all of its fire violations and some sign code violations, although questions remain about the need for additional parking and the park's ability to hold temporary special events.

Art Braswell asked that commissioners rethink rules governing special events, overflow parking and the display of pennants, which set the theme for the park's raceway.

Published 9/23/1998