VERNON, N.Y. (AP) - The Latest on local opposition to the Woodstock 50 festival (all times local):
5:55 p.m.
An upstate New York town has denied a permit to stage the Woodstock 50 festival at a local horse track, saying the application is too late and incomplete.
Vernon town attorney Vincent Rossi says Tuesday that organizers can appeal the permit denial to the town’s planning board within five days. Organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The denial comes a day after opponents of the three-day festival packed a town board meeting Monday night. Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol says it would be impossible to ensure public safety for an event with up to 65,000 people on such short notice.
The Vernon Downs racetrack emerged as a possible festival site after the original venue, Watkins Glen International, pulled out last month.
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4:38 p.m.
Holding the Woodstock 50 festival at a horse track on short notice could be a safety risk, a sheriff says, although promoters said Tuesday that they remain confident.
Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol is among the local officials and residents expressing concerns about upstate New York’s Vernon Downs harness track and casino hosting the anniversary festival Aug. 16-18.
The track belatedly emerged as a possible festival site after the original venue, Watkins Glen International, pulled out last month.
A festival at Vernon Downs could host up to 65,000 people, as opposed to the 150,000 planned for Watkins Glen, and it would not feature camping.
But some residents of the largely rural area told a packed Vernon town board meeting Monday night that they’re worried about safety and traffic. Maciol told the crowd that it would be impossible to ensure public safety in about 40 days.
Woodstock 50 president Greg Peck said Tuesday that the group is working with law enforcement and public safety officials to address concerns.
“We are confident that this careful planning and consideration of community concerns will result in a safe, world-class festival,” Peck said in a prepared release.
The festival has faced other setbacks, including the losses of a financial partner and a production company.
State health officials said last month they had received a mass gathering permit application for the festival. But they said Tuesday that type of permit was not required since there will be no camping.
The festival still needs to ensure it meets public health requirements for public gatherings of more than 5,000 people and must obtain a permit.
New York health officials say they are evaluating information submitted by Woodstock 50 in collaboration with local officials.
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