Heard County continues special-use hearing for proposed Homestead Festival, requests formal event plan

The Heard County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 16 to continue a public hearing on a special-use permit for a proposed Homestead Festival at 500 Loblolly Lane, saying the applicant must produce a written plan addressing safety, traffic and sanitary services.

Applicant Brent Harris updated the board that he had not yet met with Commissioner David Walls on site and had not received a response from the sheriff’s department. He said he had left a message with Deputy Chief Robert Bell of the local fire department; Harris told the board Bell advised that the proposed time of year for the event falls during "open fire season" for controlled burns and campfires. Commissioners pressed Mr. Harris for a formal plan that outlines event layout, traffic control, medics, fire coverage, and how primitive campsites and RV hookups would be handled.

Commissioner Larry Hammond asked how water hookups and sewage would be managed and said the board wanted a written plan. Commissioner James Perry said the board needed specifics to determine whether Heard County could provide adequate medical, law enforcement and fire protection services at the event. The chairman noted that at a prior meeting the applicant had mentioned an expected crowd of about 1,500 people, a scale the commissioners said would require formal planning.

On a motion by Commissioner David Walls, seconded by Commissioner Larry Hammond, the board voted unanimously to continue the special-use hearing until the regular meeting on Feb. 20, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. The board requested to visit the property and asked that the fire chief accompany them to review layout, traffic flow and emergency access.

The continuance leaves the application pending; the board said it will revisit the permit only after receiving the requested written plan and completing the site visit.