The Alachua County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday night to approve a temporary use permit for WildFlowers Music Park, clearing the way for the venue to host music festivals on a 270-acre property located at 4107 NE 255th Dr. in Melrose, Florida. The vote followed approximately six hours of presentations, expert testimony, and public comment at the Jack Durrance Auditorium.
The proposed park, known as WildFlowers Music Park, plans to host music festivals throughout the year, with its first event scheduled for March 13–15. Because of the scale of the planned gatherings, the developers were required to secure a temporary use permit from Alachua County before proceeding.
The meeting drew significant public interest, with 69 individuals signing up to speak and 10 residents applying as designated parties, a status granted to those who believe they will be more directly affected by a project than the general public.
Many of the designated parties live adjacent to the property and were allotted up to 15 minutes each to present concerns related to traffic congestion, environmental impacts, and noise levels in the rural community.
Arlene Barbra Antz-Hansen, a long-time resident of Melrose, addressed the commission regarding her concerns about the project’s potential impact on nearby residents. She said she had intended to move closer to her daughter, who lives approximately 60 acres from the proposed site, but was reconsidering those plans.
“I wanted to die in Melrose. I bought plots at the cemetery, but I don’t want to be by a music park,” Antz-Hansen told WUFT.
The property was purchased in August 2025 for $2.5 million by a group of investors led by New York-based developer Jordan Puryear. Plans for the site include festival grounds with camping areas, vendor spaces, and a 2.5-mile walking trail designed to encourage attendees to remain on-site during events.
When festivals are not scheduled, the owners have indicated that the park would be open to the community for recreational use.
Jorge Dubois, the broker involved in the transaction, told commissioners that the land’s previous owner, Hugh Nichols, had expressed a “dying wish” that the property not be sold to the government or developers. Dubois said the proposed use aligns with the vision for the land.
Commission Chair Ken Cornell stated that he had initially intended to vote against the permit but changed his position after hearing the presentations. Commissioners cited potential economic benefits to the surrounding area and confidence in the event organizers as factors influencing their decision.
The board attached two conditions to its approval: the park must post no trespassing signs along its property boundaries and install no parking signs along the right of way on Northeast 35th Street adjacent to private property.
With the permit now approved, organizers have four weeks to finalize preparations and comply with county conditions before the March 13–15 festival. For business owners in sectors that accommodate festival attendees—such as campgrounds, RV parks, and short-term lodging—the approval highlights the potential for event-driven visitation in rural markets.
However, it also underscores the importance of early community engagement, traffic management planning, and clear operating conditions when developing or hosting large-scale outdoor events in residential areas.