Beacon Theatres addition awaits county’s OK

BROOKSVILLE –
The county has received its first set of building plans for the creation of a new large screen format theater to be added on to the Beacon Theatres at State Road 50 and Mariner Boulevard.

Plans call for the interior wall of one of the 10 existing auditoriums to be knocked down and the lobby expanded — giving visitors more room and more food and beverage options.

In all, after the renovations are complete, there will be one large screen theater and 13 standard-sized auditoriums.

The addition is expected to be about 35-feet high and 70-feet wide.

Other than hospitals and the old courthouse, the theater would be one of the tallest buildings in Hernando County.

A review team consisting of officials from county utility, engineering, building, fire and zoning departments are going through the plans.

If any deficiencies are found, the plans go back to the applicant for correction and a subsequent meeting is held to once again review them.

Once everyone is satisfied, a permit is issued and construction can begin.

The matter won’t go to planning and zoning commissioners because the site is already zoned properly for such a theater addition.

Bo Chambliss, president of Georgia Theatre Company, said Thursday it will take about six months from the time construction begins until the opening of the new addition.

Chambliss said he plans to hire 10-15 employees to staff the expanded theater. He said there would be a small up-charge for patrons of the large-screen room.

He believes the community will support the addition and that the Beacon is doing well already in sales.

“I think the patrons will definitely like it,” he said.

The public will have the opportunity to speak about the proposed addition during a Code Compliance Review meeting at 9 a.m. April 4 at the building department office at 789 Providence Road in Brooksville.