Heaven Fest wins final permits for July 31 concert at Union Reservoir

The City of Longmont on Tuesday gave final approval for Heaven Fest, a one-day Christian music festival scheduled for July 31 at Union Reservoir.

According to the Worship and Word Movement, organizers of the festival, it could draw as many as 30,000 people. The group’s Web site has indicated that as many as 50,000 people.

The permit allows the group to use 70 city-owned acres next to the reservoir park and includes about 1,800 spaces for campers.

The organizers are paying about $17,000 in up-front fees. That includes $8,000 for using the park, a $2,750 damage deposit, $5,140 for police and $900 for a brush truck and fire crew for 12 hours. The deal also requires the group to pay $55 for each hay bale below the expected second-cutting harvest of 175 on adjacent farm property.

The group is still in negotiations with state and county officials on a transportation plan.

City officials have said that the event could bring $700,000 to local businesses by conservative estimates. Some local residents and the Boulder County Audubon Society opposed having the event, citing concerns about wildlife, traffic and damage to the local environment.