A concert scheduled for The Senoia Raceway to benefit Habitat for Humanity has been moved to Atlanta.

The rock and blues portion of the concert will take place Aug.28 at Masquerade Music Park on North Avenue, while the country portion will take place at George Jones Southern Comfort Restuarant on Moreland Avenue, Owen said Thursday.

Last Friday, Owen, who is promoting the “Southern Fried Music Festival” at the racetrack, learned Coweta County officials had obtained a restraining order prohibiting him from staging the event.

Owen was staging the concert as a benefit for Habitat for Humanity and hoped to raise more than $100,000 for the agency that provides affordable housing for low-income residents.

County officials obtained the restraining order in Fayette Superior Court, since Owen lives in Tyrone. After he received the news from the court, owen said he would be consulting with his attorney this week to discuss his options.

The festival was scheduled to feature a mix of country, rock and blues music, along with Southern food and exhibits from local businesses.

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,” 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. 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.

Owen said he's sorry the concerts won't be staged in Coweta County and expects some lawsuits to occur.

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