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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2005 Britt expansion plan in limbo By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — After months of meetings, officials for Britt Festivals, Jackson County and the city of Jacksonville are headed back to the drawing board to try to resolve some controversial aspects of Britt’s expansion plan. Craig Stone, land-use planner for the festival, asked the Jacksonville Planning Commission for another continuance until Nov. 9. after an unexpected fax Wednesday morning put the kibosh on Britt’s plan to acquire two private property parcels on Fir Street for federally mandated handicapped parking. "It came as a surprise," said Stone, speaking of the letter from property owners Don and Jo Anne Gordon. "We thought we’d acquire the approval." Britt was seeking not only the Gordon property, but also the adjacent parcel formerly owned by the Gordons and sold to Anne Brooks, a member of the Britt Auxiliary board. City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen informed the commission and those attending the meeting that Brooks had stated she would no longer negotiate a sale on her property, since the Gordons did not wish to sell. Advertisement Earlier Wednesday, Britt Executive Director Ron McUne said seven fruitful meetings had occurred since plan approval was continued in the fall of 2004. Progress was made on fencing, seating, bathrooms, landscaping and other issues, he said. "We came to some pretty solid decisions," said McUne. But not being able to acquire the properties means Britt cannot vacate Fir Street, and will need to find another way to resolve its handicap and truck-parking issues. Vacating Fir Street would also allow Britt to control street access — therefore eliminating the issue of non-ticketed customers who crowd the festival’s fence line and create crowd- control issues, according to Britt officials. In August 2004, Stone had tested Jackson County commissioners’ willingness to consider condemning the parcels if the owners were unwilling to sell. The county owns the festival grounds and is a co-applicant in the expansion project. But McUne said Wednesday Britt would not try to seize the property through eminent domain. "No one has any will to start condemnation proceedings," said McUne. "Britt’s not going to push it." Wyntergreen said the seven meetings had managed to morph the proposed plan — formerly comprised of an intergovernmental agreement, a mediated agreement and Britt’s inch-thick master plan — into one manageable document. But the failure to acquire the two properties left the parking issues "in a nebulous position," he said. Several residents had signed up to speak during the public comment section of the planning commission meeting. All agreed to wait until Nov. 9 to voice their comments and concerns. Britt sets record 2005 attendance The Britt Festivals’ 2005 season set a new record in the organization’s 43-year history. A total of 80,535 tickets were sold, surpassing its previous 2003 record year by 4.9 percent. Attendance averaged 1,789 per event over the 45-concert season. Ten concerts sold out completely, including two at the new 5,900-seat Lithia Motors Amphitheater in Central Point: the Steve Miller Band and ZZ Top. In Jacksonville, the sold-out shows included Mark Knopfler, Doobie Brothers, Sara Evans, Randy Travis, Jonny Lang, Pink Martini/Paris Combo, Bill Engvall and Tony Bennett. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Britt expansion plan in limbo ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s