Commissioners report progress on amphitheater issues
Fayette County Commissioners Ronald M. Nehls and Sean M. Cavanagh both agreed that some progress was made Monday during a meeting with state officials on plans to turn the Great Meadows Amphitheater into a movie studio. However, Nehls and Cavanagh differed on how much progress was made. Nehls touted the meeting as being very positive, noting “We’re on our way.’
Cavanagh, though, said that while progress was made, much work remains. “It’s a really complex, convoluted situation,” Cavanagh said. “We talked about a few options.”
The meeting was held to discuss issues related to lifting the deed restrictions on property surrounding the Great Meadows Amphitheater.
In order for a proposal by Fayette Films LLC to turn the dormant Wharton Township amphitheater and surrounding area into a movie production studio and tourist venue to become a reality, the Project 70 deed restrictions must be lifted. The restrictions were put in place when the county purchased the property from the state to make sure that the land was used for recreation, conservation and open spaces.
Although there are no restrictions on the 6.1 acres that include the amphitheater, in order for any development of the 122 acres surrounding the amphitheater, the deed restrictions have to be lifted. Lifting the restrictions entails action from the state legislature, approval from the DCNR and coming to an agreement to either substituted comparable property or paying for the property. The county received a $16,500 grant in the late 1960s to buy the deed-restricted land from the state. If the restrictions are not lifted and development commences, the county is liable for fines equaling the purchase price compounded annually at a 6 percent rate. That figure is estimated at $923,000.
Joann Hanley, superintendent of Fort Necessity, has expressed reservations about the development, claiming it could cause problems for the nearby historic landmark.
Larry Williamson, director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation for the DCNR in Harrisburg, hosted the meeting. Hanley and another park service representative attended the meeting along with the three county commissioners. Officials from Fayette Films LLC weren’t invited to the meeting.
Nehls said he believes Williamson is going to try to get a couple of proposals together to deal with the issues. He said Williamson suggested that it is possible to include language in the agreement that states that Fayette Films can begin work at the site while the deed restriction process continues.
“There was a lot of give and take,” he said. Nehls said the visual site lines are the main concern of the park service. A suggestion already mentioned included creating a 30-foot no build buffer zone on the side of the property that borders Fort Necessity, limiting building heights to 60 feet and maintaining the historic Braddock Trail.
Nehls said he is hopeful it isn’t too late to move forward with the deal. He said he doesn’t believe that site lines are an issue due to the topography and elevation difference. Nehls said there are 60-foot trees and thick wooded areas in between the two properties.
Cavanagh said he doesn’t think there is a quick fix.
“The average taxpayer needs to realize it’s a bureaucratic nightmare,” he said. Cavanagh said he believes the ideal situation for the park service is to acquire the land. “I don’t see a quick resolution. A- the principals weren’t there, B- it could take some time and C- we have to have legislation. There are a lot of hoops and hurdles to go through,” he said.
Cavanagh said he believes Williamson “wants to balance between economic development and historical preservation and environmental concerns.”
Cavanagh said the park service is concerned with viewsheds, noise decibels, scheduling problems and Braddock’s Trail, although the main concern seemed to be the viewsheds. He also voiced concern that officials from the film company were not included in the meeting.
“We’re negotiating a deal and the principals aren’t there. It’s a complicated situation. You can’t sit at a table until you have everybody at the table,” Cavanagh said.
During the meeting, Cavanagh said a conference call was placed to Uniontown attorney Ira B. Coldren Jr., a partner in Fayette Films LLC. Cavanagh said Coldren suggested that the park service is resorting to extortion and if all the DCNR wants to do is make Hanley happy, that’s not going to happen.
Cavanagh said even if the Fayette Films deal falls through, the commissioners still have to work to get the restrictions lifted.
“I’m for pressing forward but I don’t think it is going to happen in a couple weeks. It’s going to take a few months or more,” Cavanagh said. However, he said the deed restriction problem needs to be solved as soon as possible.
“We don’t want to come back in 10 years,” he said.
He once again expressed concern that Wyoming based movie producer Jason Thomas and Coldren are the only ones coming forward, when Hollywood moguls Doris Keating-Schlesinger and her husband Barry Schlesinger are names merely dropped in the background.
Fayette Films plans to lease or purchase the site and turn it into a full-scale movie production studio. In addition to making between 2 and 5 films a year, plans also include utilizing the 1,500-seat amphitheater for various shows. Constriction of a mansion set, livery stable and backlots are also planned.
Neither Commission chairman Vincent A. Vicites, Williamson, nor Hanley could be reached for comment.