Concert goers looking forward to the Doobie Brothers and Nickel Creek shows later this summer may need to make other plans. Concerns over security, concert times and public safety prompted the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission Monday, July 10, to deny a conditional use permit for two Bravo Entertainment concerts scheduled for this summer at the Warm Springs base of Bald Mountain.
"They need to find another venue," said Anne Corrock, vice-chair of the commission.
Bravo scheduled Nickel Creek to perform at Warm Springs Aug. 12 and the Doobie Brothers on Aug. 22.
"I don't feel good about having another concert, unless there are some big changes," Commissioner Deborah Burns said.
The action came in light of Bravo's Lyle Lovett concert, held on the Fourth of July, at the Sun Valley Co.-owned upper Greyhawk parking lot.
"I think there were a lot of issues Bravo chose not to do, to ignore or weren't prepared to deal with," said Ketchum Planning Administrator Harold Moniz. "Specifically, city staff raised concerns over a lack of bus transportation, concert staff, fire watch personnel and no smoking signage. Also, fire danger is a forefront concern."
Bravo argued the commission's points.
"With any new venue there will always be issues," said Paul Thornton, president of Boise-based Bravo Entertainment.
Thornton said Bravo would appeal the commission's decision to the City Council, although no Bravo representatives were present at the Monday meeting. Thorton said that it is the company's busy season and it is difficult to travel to meetings.
"We have many complaints about the city, where they dropped the ball," Thornton said. He said Bravo was not informed of the conditional use permit process and was told to change the concert times at the last minute.
Bravo has presented concerts in the Wood River Valley since 1998. Previous Bravo concerts were held at the city's Park & Ride lot, at the corner of Warm Springs and Saddle roads. The site is now being excavated to make way for the Wood River Community YMCA.
"The city really wanted these concerts. It brings people to town," Thornton said. He said Bravo does not have an alternative venue to hold the concerts.
"We have a real legal problem. We still have contracts with these artists. We still have to pay them ... We would lose well in the excess of $100,000 if these shows were not to happen," Thornton said, adding that he didn't know how many tickets had been pre-sold for the shows.
The controversy comes after concerns about fire danger and insurance arose the day before the July 4 concert. On the eve of the show, the Ketchum City Council very reluctantly approved a lease agreement with Sun Valley Co. Sun Valley agreed to let the city lease the Warm Springs parking lots for the concerts. The resolution approved only one of three Bravo Entertainment concerts scheduled for this summer.
P&Z Commissioners Jack Rutherford and Greg Strong did not attend the meeting.
(Express staff writer Rebecca Meany contributed to this report.)
