The country music festival faces uncertainty as organizers lack permits from city and state agencies, raising concerns about wildlife impact.
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — One month from now, a country music festival is expected to bring thousands of fans to St. Pete Beach. But, organizers might need to find another venue.
St. Pete Beach’s city manager sent a letter to Tradewinds Resort, telling Country Thunder organizers to resubmit a complete revised application for the landside of the resort.
“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Dr. Beth Forys with St. Petersburg Audubon said.
Right now, necessary permits for this event from the city, along with state environmental and wildlife agencies, have not been obtained.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent the following statement:
“The FWC provides comments for DEP permits regarding imperiled species, including marine turtles and imperiled beach-nesting birds. FWC staff are in the process of reviewing this project for species impacts and are providing technical assistance to avoid and minimize impacts to listed wildlife.”
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection says it is, “currently reviewing a permit application related to the proposed event and is coordinating closely with partner agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to evaluate potential impacts to wildlife, water quality and coastal resources. The event cannot proceed without all required local, state and federal authorizations.’
Despite the letter, some residents and environmental group believe this could still harm sea bird and turtle nesting season.
“I think it’s great to move it off the beach, although I’ve heard there may still be some tents or other things on the beach. We’re kind of worried about how people are going to get to the event,” Forys said. “They said there would be shuttles, but we know human nature. I suspect people will still be walking along the beach, and there could be emergency vehicles there as well, so I’m still nervous about the wildlife.”
“I think if you’re an attendee to this festival and it’s going to be canceled, or refunded to another time or place, I think a court would very likely to refund those ticket prices,” Charles Gallagher with Gallagher & Associates said.
Gallagher said permit issues could be a huge factor in a civil case.
“It’s not reasonable to expect the city to accelerate some decision or response,” Gallagher said.
10 Tampa Bay News reached out to Country Thunder and Tradewinds Resorts about their plans for moving locations but has not yet heard back.