Alachua County Commission unanimously approves Wildflowers Music Festival permit
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the end of a six-hour evening session on February 10, the Alachua County Commission unanimously approved a Temporary Use Permit for a four-day event in March at the Wildflowers Music Park.
Staff recommended approval with conditions
The staff report recommended approval of the Temporary Use Permit for a music festival on March 12-16, 2026, on a 210-acre site south of Melrose, with the following conditions:
- Gates may open to the general public no earlier than 9 a.m. on March 12, and all attendees shall have left the property no later than 2 p.m. on March 16.
- Setup on the site may begin no earlier than 10 a.m. on February 27, and takedown shall be complete no later than March 26.
- Amplified music is allowed beginning at 10 a.m. and ending no later than 9 p.m. on Thursday, 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. on Sunday.
- Sound levels at the property line shall not exceed 60 dBA during the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., or 55 dBA during the hours of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Enforcement of sound level requirements shall be by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
- The maximum number of attendees, including vendors, performers, and staff, shall not exceed 5,000 at any one time.
- Pedestrian trails and paths shall be at least 100 feet from the property boundary. Trails and paths along the perimeter of the property must have signs that they are to be used only during daylight hours.
- The old homesteaded area in the southwest corner of the site shall be fenced to prohibit access by festival attendees.
- The applicant must provide a bond of $15,950 by March 6 to cover any damage to roads.
- A right-of-way use permit from Alachua County Public Works must include the prohibition of access from Quail Street, traffic control at the intersection of County Road 219a and NE 35th Avenue, directional messaging locations, and the hours of off-duty law enforcement support.
- The applicant must obtain a driveway connection permit from Alachua County Public Works to address two-way traffic on NE 35th Avenue and the timing of the installation of fencing.
- The applicant must install fencing or barriers around potential burrows in the active festival area, and festival attendees will be excluded from areas around burrows outside the active festival area.
- Stormwater will be retained close to the proposed festival facilities to minimize runoff and erosion into wetlands.
- Barricades and signage must be inspected within a week before the festival.
- Permits for all tents over 900 square feet must be approved no less than one week before the festival.
Principal Planner Chris Dawson said the applicant must also obtain a Special Event Permit from Alachua County Fire Rescue.
The slide above shows the proposed layout of the festival and the distance from the music stage to adjacent properties.
After the staff presentation, the applicant spent about 45 minutes describing the event and the work that had gone into preparing for it, including environmental assessments, sound level measurements, tree protection, tortoise protection, and public health aspects.
About a dozen people who claimed status as affected parties spoke next and asked the applicant questions for about an hour and a half.
After a break, the Commissioners asked questions. In response to a question about economic impact, Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson, who is listed as the “Chief Petty Officer for Existential Logistics” of Wildflowers Music Park on the application, said they hadn’t done formal calculations, but they would be collecting the 5% tourist development tax and sales tax on merchandise sales, “and then there’s the effect on purchasing gasoline, Airbnbs, going to the restaurants, all that sort of stuff.” He said the owners anticipate making enough income from the festival to make their mortgage payments, so the intent is to only have one festival per year.
Motion
Commissioner Anna Prizzia made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation with two additional conditions: the applicant must post “No Parking” signs along NE 35th Avenue and post “No Trespassing” signs along the boundary of the property to discourage attendees from wandering onto neighboring properties. Commissioner Mary Alford seconded the motion.
Public comment
Although almost 70 people had signed up for public comment, by the time they had a chance to speak, many had left, and about 35 people spoke, split almost equally between those who supported and opposed the permit. Chair Ken Cornell set the limit for each speaker at two minutes, and public comment lasted a little over an hour.
Commission discussion
During Commission discussion, Alford said she thought the festival would be an economic benefit to Melrose. She added, “I came to this with a pretty open mind. I tried to ask hard questions, but after listening to all of this, I feel like I have to support the motion.” She thanked everyone for being concerned about their community, but “this is a one-time permit, and if they fail, we won’t do it again… So please give it a chance and see how it goes… I don’t think that one three-day festival is going to change the community that much.”
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said, “Music… is a healing thing… We believed in Hutch when he was on this dais… I think [he deserves] a shot… I feel like it would be a gift to the Melrose community to have this there.”
Prizzia said that “plenty of evidence” was presented by the applicants that shows they are “prepared for this event and are going to be able to handle it well and with respect for the property that they’re stewarding, as well as respect for the community that’s surrounding them, and if there are any hiccups, they will be ready to respond quickly to those hiccups…. This is a test ground. This could have been a rezoning application, and this could have been a permanent decision being made today, but instead, it’s a Temporary Use Permit, and it is a test. This is a dress rehearsal, folks… We have to base our decisions on the facts that are presented and the evidence that is presented in this hearing, and for me, the evidence is clear that they’ve checked all the boxes in terms of making the best effort they can to make sure that this event goes off well.”
Commissioner Charles Chestnut said, “I think it meets staff criteria, so I have no comments. I know how I’m gonna vote.”
Cornell said, “I came in tonight as a hard no… [But my] concerns have been eliminated, largely by the staff’s presentation.” He said the board had approved the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire on Archer Road one year, and “it’s never been approved since. So there’s a real risk of that.”
Cornell said he heard “a real mix” of opinions on the festival, but “many of the folks out in Melrose… want to give it a try… So I’m not a no anymore. I’m a yes, and I am hopeful that you all can get everyone that is a no tonight to become a yes, because I think it’s what the community is looking for.”
The motion was approved unanimously.
…..reverse that, many in Melrose don’t want to give it a try…..
Why should they ? They live in a very rural area and they want to keep it that way.
It is amazing how no one is addressing the trespassing on private property from the wildflowers group onto adjacent neighbors. Pictures, timestamps and faces were all produced for proof. Wildflowers even admitted to it. Yet they still want neighbors to give it a chance. There is nothing neighborly about this corporations .
This whole situation stinks of corruption.
Why would the Commissoners ever think of even putting near anywhere people live ? Especially on a dirt road that has very minimal traffic ? Is the property owner getting a big chunk of money ?
Because none of the commissioners live out here, so it doesn’t disrupt THEIR lives.
Well you didn’t think the commissioners were going to go against Hutch did you?
I wonder how much Hutch will be paid as a working member of this so-called “nonprofits”.
If the majority of Melrose citizens disapprove of this festival then, why does county government insist on ramming this venue down the throats of Melrose citizens?
Because they cannot get away from the wokeness they brought to this county. Beside when do they ever listen to what the citizens want ?
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said, “Music… is a healing thing… We believed in Hutch when he was on this dais… I think [he deserves] a shot… I feel like it would be a gift to the Melrose community to have this there.” 🤣😂🤮
She must have forgotten about the 😷 fiasco.
Agreeing to this the commissionersseem brain dead, as those who spoke out were speaking to deaf ears. People who live out there they want the peace and quiet and the Commissioners are dead to who they represent. A law suit to block this should be started.
Corrupt Alachua County does not care what happens to little ole’ Melrose. Our roads cannot support this. ALL those involved in approving this should be ashamed of themselves. Another small quaint little town will be ruined to line the pockets of those who only have $ signs in their sights.
So just off the top, the infrastructure in that area alonewill take a hit. Beiing of a dirt road I doubt any of the County Commissioners even went out to the location to inspect it. Most likely just refered to maps and pointer sticks. Who is going to clean up all the debris and repair the roads, Parking on the street will most likely happen. Bad choice Commissioners, this is not La-la land, you can make any excuse you want, but guaranteed you would not want this in your backyard. Sad for those living in the area, your lives will be messed up for 5 days maybe even longer after cleanup and road repair is done.
Where are all these RV’ go n a dump their sewage? Has anything been built for that?
🤘 lets get the party started 🎵
You really didn’t think out commissioners would listen to the people? Did you?
Advertise it heavily in the SE part of Gainesville. Maybe they will have the same kind of event like they did last Easter near Boulware Springs.
Good point, and will the music choices be diverse and inclusionary for the Eastside audience ? 🧐🧐
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said, “Music… is a healing thing… We believed in Hutch when he was on this dais… I think [he deserves] a shot.
Of course they were going to approve it.
The fix was in long before the commission voted for it.
Somebody should have asked Wheeler how much healing she would expect to experience from amplified music (I assume we’re not talking about Mozart) pumped into her house windows 3-4 days and evenings in a row.
Boomers and wannabes want their own little Woodstock again 💊💉🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
I know it won’t amount to much, but I am boycotting every Melrose business Thor is in support of this (Chiappinis, The Melrose Center, etc). BTW, the aforementioned businesses are both for sale now. Chiappinis for $1.2 million and The Melrose Center for $999,999.99). Of course they want it, so they can take the money and run. I also will buy non taxable items, like food in grocery stores, in Alachua County. No more eating out or getting takeout, no more gas, no more clothes, no more recreation, etc). I refuse to fund the county commission who doesn’t give a flying flip about the people who live in Melrose.
I’m sure it will make you feel better about yourself. Not sure if your community will feel the same.
The locals who aren’t old hippies or interested in cashing in on this don’t want it. But, the county commission only wants to fill their pockets and Hutch’s pockets with the so-called nonprofit cash. Same old same old for Alachua County. Screw the taxpayers for their own glory and compensation.
This would have been solved if Alachua County had a fair grounds.
hope it rains before then with the burn bans in place they’ll have a maasive fire problem
The Alachua County Commission doesn’t care about fire. They don’t live in Melrose. I do, but in the PutnamCounty part of the town, so it will be horrible at my house. Guess they want to keep kissing Hutch’s behind. And, just how much money will Hutch be making in his position of the so-called “non-profit”? Damn sure he isn’t doing all this for altruistic reasons. The land is owned by an LLC, so I doubt the whole thing is even legal. The Alachua County cronies loves non-profits. It is how they and all their buddies make the big bucks.
Do any of the current Alachua County Commissioners who approved this permit reside in the Melrose, FL area?
Will any of the current Alachua County Commissioners who approved this permit be attending these upcoming events?
I believe the Chair of the Commission lives out that away.
I think he lives near Paynes Prairie, bit I could be wrong.
Facts?
Didn’t residents have many options thru the years to vote for less liberal, less woke county commission candidates? Didn’t they keep voting for Hutch, Byerly, Cornell, Alford? Isn’t this what you get? Will they remember next election what a fiasco this “music” festival turned into?
Hard to do with the large liberal population in Gainesville and UF. The small towns get screwed over all the time. Why do you think the county commission pushes for at large commissioners as opposed to those who represent the local areas?
The Wildwood flower grew out on the farm and we never known what it was called some said it was a flower some said it was a weed I didn’t give it much thought 🤔✌️🎸