KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Keene City Council Planning, Licenses and Development Committee voted Wednesday to recommend approval for several requests to use city property, including a series of small-scale downtown events designed to keep activity in the city center during upcoming construction.

The events, organized by the Keene Downtown Group, are part of a program called “Dig Into Keene,” which will feature four mini-festivals scheduled for July 25, Sept. 12, Oct. 10 and Nov. 27. The gatherings are planned from noon to 3 p.m. and would take place in parts of downtown including Central Square and Railroad Square.

Organizers said the smaller festivals are intended to help maintain foot traffic and support downtown businesses during the Keene Downtown Infrastructure Improvement and Reconstruction Project.

Under the committee’s recommendation, the events would require organizers to provide $1 million in liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured, sign a revocable license and indemnification agreement, and coordinate road closures, detours, event setup and cleanup with city staff. Organizers would also need to obtain permission from any private property owners whose spaces are included within the event footprint.

The committee also recommended approval for two other uses of city property.

During the meeting, committee members also discussed a letter from a local resident requesting a review of local warehouse zoning following concerns raised by a situation in Merrimack involving a potential federal detention facility.

City Attorney Amanda Palmeira told councilors that municipalities generally cannot regulate federal government operations in a way that would significantly hinder them, due to legal principles governing federal authority. However, she said some generally-applicable codes, such as building or fire safety standards, may still apply.

City Fire Marshal Rick Wood said local officials could request safety inspections of facilities if concerns arise, although federal safety regulations would typically take precedence over local codes.

The committee’s recommendations will now move to the full Keene City Council for final consideration.