All

Sean Owen wants to do is stage a music festival

and raise some money for Habitat for Humanity.

But

as the Tyrone resident is quickly learning,

nothing comes easy when trying to interpret the

complex rules of local government.

Owen

plans to stage The Southern Fried Music Fest at

the Senoia Raceway, just outside the city on Ga.

Highway 16.

The

festival features a mix of country, rock and

blues music, along with Southern food and

exhibits from local businesses.

Proceeds

from the event will go to Habitat for Humanity

and Owen is hoping to raise $100,000, which could

build three or four homes for needy families. The

Citizen Review is a sponsor of the event,

providing free advertising.

But

as owen tried to get permission from the Coweta

County Commission, he encountered one road block

after another.

"I

tried to do it at the Coweta County Fairgrounds,

but the commission told me no. Now that I'm all

set up at the race track, they're threatening me

with an injunction," he said.

Owen

has talked to Coweta County administrator Theron

Gay several times about the festival and said Gay

has told him the festival does not conform with

the county's zoning.

"I've

been working at this since February and this

could bring thousands of dollars of tax revenue

into the county," he said.

Owen

said he would be willing to work with the county

on reaching a compromise, but said, "I

honestly don't know what the problem is."

With

the festival less than a month away, Owen has

already invested heavily in promotions and hopes

a solution can be worked out.

"They

don't have any grounds to shut it down," he

said.

But

Gay believes the county does.

"The

zoning for the racetrack allows special

recreational events, but our opinion is this is a

money making effort for the promoter. We don't

have anything against Habitat for Humanity, but

it just doesn't meet the county's zoning

standards," he said.

County

attorney Mitch Powell said county officials are

trying to work with Owen, but the sticking point

remains the zoning.

"We

haven't filed an injunction yet, but we will if

we have to. That type of event is not allowed at

the raceway," he said.

For

his part, Owen is hoping everything can be

addressed quickly so he can refocus his efforts

on promoting the concert.

"I

don't want any ill will. I've addressed all their

concerns. I just want to stage the show," he

said.

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