JACKSONVILLE — The Britt Festivals’ expansion plan will appear on the city’s Planning Commission agenda in January.

Although the conditional-use request was unanimously approved at the commission’s November meeting, Jacksonville code requires that the plan come back in a public forum for a final sign-off, says City Planner Scott Clay.

The two-hour meeting included public comment on the proposed plan. Residents and business owners voiced support and concerns about the expansion program, which allows for an increase in reserved seating but keeps total capacity at 2,200.

The Planning Commission is no longer taking public comment on the issue, Clay says.

The November approval came after 16 months of negotiations between Britt’s planner Craig Stone, Jackson County representatives and city officials.

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While the vote for approval was unanimous, planning commission members had some reservations. In the November meeting, Commissioner Howard Johnson urged Britt officials not to remove lawn seating in order to create a larger reserve section.

"Britt is about sitting on the hill," said Johnson. "You don’t see any (Britt posters) of people sitting in reserved seating.

Commissioner Jerry Ferranato had put in an 11th-hour plea for the commission to block Britt’s proposed, controversial eight-foot fence.

"People don’t like the prison fence," said Farranato. "The public has strong opinions on that.

Britt Festivals Executive Director Ron McUne told commissioners the barb wire top had been removed from the fence’s original design.

Britt’s plan to acquire two private property parcels on Fir Street for federally-mandated handicapped parking has been stymied by the property owners’ refusal to sell.

Britt’s inability to acquire the two properties means another way must be found to resolve handicap and truck parking issues.

Britt must also find another way to deal with the issue of non-ticketed customers who crowd the festival’s fence line and create a crowd control issues, according to Britt officials.

McUne has characterized the resolution as "a fair decision we can live with."

However, some of the commission’s conditions will require creation of a new frontage plan for the Festivals’ grounds, says McUne.

"Britt is looking for an architectural design firm," says McUne.

In its Jan. 11 meeting, which starts at 7 p.m., the Planning Commission will determine if it agrees with Britt’s written description of the points articulated at the November meeting.

"If they agree, they say ‘Yup, that’s it,’" and sign off," says Clay. "If they see something they disagree with, they can ask Britt’s representatives about it."

Once the conditional use permit is signed, any opponent would have 21 days to file an appeal with the state Land Use Board of Appeals.

After that, McUne said, Britt will begin a capital campaign to help fund the facility changes.

Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail sspecht@mailtribune.com.