County Planning Commission Hears About the Prospect of a New Campground Off Rivermont Drive

On Wednesday, September 11, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue, the County Planning Commission met for a regular meeting in which they heard, once again, during public comments, from Bentonville locals who say they would be negatively impacted by the location of the proposed firearm’s training range for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. This comes on the heels of a presentation by the Office to the Warren County Board of Supervisors on the previous day at the board’s work session. This issue is yet to be resolved and still faces processing by the commission wherein they will give a recommendation of approval or denial to the supervisors. Over Wednesday evening, the commission also evaluated and voted upon several applications for conditional use permits, including one from SouthFork RiverSide Campground, LLC, for a campground land-use at an approximately one hundred forty-two-acre property located off Rivermont Drive, requesting a recommendation of approval for said land-use beside the Shenandoah River.

Warren County Planning Commission sits down for a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 11. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The summary of the request, included in the agenda packet for the evening’s business, reads as follows: “The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit for a commercial campground for one hundred camp sites for motorized recreational vehicles, campers and tent camping. The existing barn will be renovated and converted into an office for campground check-in and management and general store to provide goods and materials for campground guests. They propose constructing two sanitary facilities and installing a drainfield in the areas as shown in the general concept plan. The majority of the land will continue to be farmed and used for agricultural purposes such as making hay and forest management areas.”

Above: Planner Kelly Wahl and Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz are prepared to present a handful of applications for conditional use permits. Below: Planning Director Matt Wendling (L), who presented one conditional use permit that evening, and County Attorney Jordan Bowman, who was available to share his legal expertise, are prepared to assist in their respective capacities.

The summary continues: “The property owner states in their statement of justification that their intent is to preserve as much natural landscape as possible and implement sustainable practices for waste management and water conservation. The area designated for camping will be accessed through the farm pasture via an existing variable width access easement and dust-free road. The location of the camping areas will be within the Special Flood Hazard Area Floodzone “A,” which is directly adjacent to the river. This area has been designed so there will be free-flow of traffic in and around the campground to be accessed by the existing road, which shall be improved as part of the development of the campground.”

The summary concludes: “They are proposing to provide canoe, kayak and tubing rentals and livery services as an accessory use to the campground and requesting this be allowed under this conditional use permit. A concept plan has been submitted and will be subject to revision based on comments from agencies and the Planning Commission. A proposal for future expansions of the facility for a pool, indoor recreation facility, and restaurant/snack bar is included in the notes but not shown on the concept plan.”

After hearing from the applicant about the LLC’s desire to preserve natural beauty, about the positive impact the campground will have on the local economy, and a wide variety of other things including the emergency egress plan in the case that the river floods, the commission voted unanimously to advertise for a public hearing on this item. After hearing from staff during the section of the meeting dedicated to commission matters, in which the commission heard from Planning Director Matt Wendling regarding the comprehensive plan in progress and how he anticipates that it will be ready for public review by October, the meeting adjourned.

Click here to watch the Warren County Planning Commission Meeting of September 11, 2024.