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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 16, 2004 Britt Festivals crew members set up for a Bruce Hornsby concert Thursday. A new master plan for the venue calls for increased reserved seating, more bathrooms and an 8-foot fence around the perimeter. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Britt fence idea hits sour note Proposed master plan calls for an 8-foot fence surrounding the grounds, prompting one man to compare itto a Russian gulag By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — An 8-foot-tall fence topped by barbed wire could surround the Britt Festivals grounds if a new master plan for the summer concert venue is approved. The plan also calls for increasing reserved seating, adding handicapped parking and renovating concessions, bathrooms and picnic areas, among other changes. The plan came to public light at a Jacksonville Planning Commission meeting Wednesday. The plan already is drawing fire from residents, especially concerning the fence. "If this is allowed, the park will resemble a Russian gulag or a state pen," said Jacksonville Woodlands Association President Larry Smith in a letter to Ron McUne, Britt Festivals executive director. Other parts of the plan include more bathrooms, box seating, a mini amphitheater, improved lighting and acquisition of adjacent properties for potential parking. Advertisement McUne said he hopes to increase the number of reserved seats from 600 to 1,000, with total capacity staying at 2,200. He stressed lawn seating in front of the stage would remain. "That is a reward for people standing in line," said McUne. "It’s the little guys’ way of getting a great seat. But we do have a large part of our membership which is growing older and would like to have more reserved seating." At Wednesday’s meeting, resident Desmond Armstrong said the 8-foot wall went against the historic nature of Jacksonville. Besides, he said, Britt organizers should not quibble over a few locals saving their ticket money. Free concerts for some, he said, are only fair. "Local residents deserve some recompense for inconvenience," he said. McUne said the new fence is necessary to discourage non-paying concert-goers who sit outside the grounds. The unruly crowds do more than rob Britt coffers, he said. They disrupt paying patrons and create a safety hazard. "There are a lot of open container violations," he said. "There is also a lot of loud talking and smoking in a dry, grassy area. It’s a growing problem and we get a lot of complaints over this." McUne declined to present the master plan to the commission until he reviewed concerns raised by city staff. But Chairman Bill Leep allowed some public comment. McUne said he didn’t hear anything at Wednesday’s meeting he wasn’t expecting. In fact, he said, he’s looking forward to presenting his plan in detail at the next commission meeting Aug. 18. "We are wedded to the ambiance of Britt," McUne said. "For us, this (plan) primarily revolves around making a nice concert site better. This is not as daunting as some would believe." The grounds, which encompass a 12.36-acre area, are owned by Jackson County. Britt leases the property and must meet city standards and codes. The new master plan provides an opportunity for Britt to make improvements and for the city to nail down issues such as decibel levels and crowd control, which have generated complaints in the past, said City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. The proposal includes long-range planning for the acquisition of two neighboring properties for potential parking, along with roughly 600 linear feet of Fir Street right-of-way. Craig A. Stone and Associates created the new inch-thick master plan document. The city spent the last few weeks creating a staff report based on Stone’s plan, said Wyntergreen. He said the Planning Commission was responsible for making sure the proposed changes would have a "minimum adverse impact on adjoining properties." Wyntergreen also said the city had storm drain concerns and wanted to see a firm financial plan. "Financing is real soft," said Wyntergreen. "We need to see some sort of capital programs other than a wish list." Stone said he did not receive the city’s staff report in time to review it. Wyntergreen said the Planning Commission will have the final decision on Britt’s proposal. "If appealed, the appeal would go directly to the (Land Use Board of Appeals). Not to the City Council," said Wyntergreen. "Over all, it’s a good plan," he said. "But the devil is in the details." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. 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