The City of Biloxi has denied a special event permit for Black Spring Break, an annual event along Biloxi’s beachfront frequently attended by upwards of 30,000.

WLOX in Biloxi reports city officials denied the permit because the application submitted by the organizers used an address which is privately owned on the north side of the beach, although the planned events would be held on the beach.

City officials were scheduled to hear an appeal from event organizers Tuesday, although when a final decision would be announced was not immediately clear.

“Their application they submitted shows that 2450 Beach Boulevard is part of the event, even though in their language they’re saying they aren’t specifically having an event on the Shuller property, there’s no way you can separate the two,” Biloxi’s Planning Commission Director Jerry Creel told the TV station.

“If the events are being held on the beach, on the south side of Highway 90, but the booths and vendors and parking is on the other side, you’ve got that constant back and forth across Highway 90 that disrupts traffic, creates safety issues not only for the people there but also for the police department to have to maintain.”

But safety concerns go beyond pedestrians walking across the highway. Last year’s Black Spring Break was marred by a shooting on the final day which injured five people, including a Biloxi police officer. A WLOX reporter was filming a segment in the area at the time and reported at least 10 shots rang out as people scrambled for cover.

A 22-year-old Gulfport man, Dontavius Omar Magee, was ultimately taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and charged with the shooting. Local officials are concerned the shooting may dissuade officers from other jurisdictions from providing assistance for the event, as has been customary in the past.

Black Spring Break organizers have also submitted an application for a permit to hold events on the sand beach during the 24th annual event, planned for April 12-15, but that has yet to be approved by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, which oversees the beach.