Bedford’s Sweet On Shed Plans

County supervisors in Bedford, Va., recently approved the rezoning of 40 acres for a privately funded 7,000-capacity amphitheatre. Developers are expected to break ground soon, with a projected April 2008 completion date.

The Sweetwater Amphitheatre at Eastlake will feature a permanent stage and 2,500 covered seats, as well as lawn seating for 4,500.

Onsite parking will accommodate between 10 and 15 buses and 900 cars, the Bedford Bulletin reported, and off-site lots could provide 300 to 400 additional spots.

Developers Darrin Snyder and Holly Sweet have apparently committed to bringing nearly 30 concerts per year to the shed between April and October.

Response at a public meeting on the issue was generally favorable.

Supervisor John Sharp called the amphitheatre a "tremendous asset to the community," according to the Roanoke Times.

But the shed’s development could put another proposed amphitheatre in Roanoke on hold.

The city’s officials have apparently been in discussions for the last year to build a similar-sized venue, although the project was set to be funded entirely by taxpayer dollars.

Bedford supervisor Dale Wheeler explained that Roanoke lacked adequate plans for an amphitheatre, the Times reported.

"I think our neighbors to the west missed the boat by not having any real plans after they tore down Victory Stadium," Wheeler said. "There was a discussion of an amphitheatre across from the civic center," but the project never materialized.