MELROSE, Fla. (WCJB) — Alachua County commissioners unanimously approved a temporary use permit Tuesday night allowing the Wildflowers Music Festival to move forward in Melrose from March 12–16, following hours of public comment that highlighted deep divisions within the rural community.
The meeting began at 5 p.m. and featured lengthy testimony from residents, organizers and supporters debating whether the 5,000-person festival fits the character of the small lakeside town.
County staff recommended approval with several conditions, including limits on attendance, noise restrictions, required traffic management plans, environmental protections and a surety bond to ensure compliance with county regulations. The event will be held on private property and include overnight camping, live music and vendors.
Earlier in the day, TV20 visited the festival site. While no stage was visibly constructed, signage directed crews along dirt roads into the property. Open clearings appeared prepared for parking, and heavy machinery was present. Some areas showed signs of prior clearing, though it was unclear when that work occurred.
Supporters told commissioners the event reflects Melrose’s artistic culture and has been carefully planned.
“Local talent, local vendors and we are doing all that we can to follow your process,” said Guy Forchion, president of the Wildflowers Music Venue Board. “As I see the culture and what is a core element of Melrose, I imagine this will fit right in.”
Resident Larry Eastman said the festival is not a first-time experiment but one organizers have refined over decades.
“It became obvious that this is not a speculative adventure or a first time experiment,” Eastman said. “It’s an event they’ve refined over decades with established systems for traffic management, safety coordination, environmental protection and neighbor communications and relations.”
Opponents argued that hosting thousands of visitors in a rural residential area could permanently alter the community.
“Wildflowers is the first thing that has ever made me consider leaving Melrose,” one resident said during public comment.
Michelle Baer, who lives near the proposed site, said she worries about the impact of noise and traffic.
“This neighborly old Florida village is diminished by hosting five thousand guests without a stake here,” Baer said. “While to my south I have Sandra and Lee, to my west I now have new neighbors. I never anticipated my new neighbors would be a music festival.”
Residents raised concerns about emergency vehicle access, narrow roadways and how far music would carry across nearby properties. Supporters countered that professional traffic coordination and sound engineering plans are in place and that the festival must comply with county-imposed limitations.
With the permit approved and conditions in place, organizers can now proceed with preparations for the March 12–16 event.
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