FOLEY, Ala. — A conditional permit the city granted last month for what was billed as an “experimental” Festival of Musicians proposed for a site along the Foley Beach Express during Spring Break was withdrawn on Monday.

Mayor John Koniar said city officials met with the Festival’s developer/promoter Rick Shell for an hour and a half on Monday morning after which the city determined the Festival of Musicians could not be approved for the March 12-14, 2010, date Shell had set.

Koniar was quick to say that Shell was looking at going forward with the Festival “down the road” and was planning on talking to residents of Glenlakes subdivision about the venue at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10 at the Miflin Community Center.

“Everything that can be put in place is in place,” Shell said following Monday’s city council meeting at which the conditional permit was withdrawn.

“The only thing we could add is to put bows around its neck and hair.”

Shell said issues brought up by the city - alcohol for one - were beyond his control. According to Shell, he was told by city officials that the Alabama Beverage Control Board has what he called “great concern” about alcohol at the Festival, but Shell said his contact with ABC said they don’t care about the alcohol issue if it is allowed by Festival officials.

“There’s no time to be drunk at this thing,” Shell said, noting the Festival of Musicians has been billed as 500 hours of non-stop music and musical competition.

Shell said the city had asked that $1 million in insurance be in place in connection with the Festival and he has $2 million; they had asked for 30 portable toilets and he had 35, five handicapped; and he had a security company that would have four to six employees on site at all times.

Shell said the opportunity to hold the Festival during Spring Break is now lost, but he’s looking at drawing a summer crowd now. Shell had hoped to draw anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 to the Festival, which he now hopes will take place June 11-13, 2010, prior to Father’s Day weekend and the Balloon Festival. Shell said the Festival of Musicians could help advertise the Balloon Festival.

Asked what kind of response city officials had received concerning the Festival of Musicians proposed for March 12-14, Shell said “good feedback and negative feedback.

“I am willing to do anything that has to be done and am capable of doing what has to be done,” Shell said of making the Festival of Musicians come to pass as perhaps an annual event.