Opponents of Browntown commercial camping and event sites project poised to make their case at November 10 Planning Commission meeting

Four Conditional Use Permit (CUP) applications submitted to the Warren County Planning Commission for review by Edwin Wright appear to have stirred up a hornet’s nest of local opposition. Two of those CUPs are for the development of commercial campgrounds and two are for event facilities. Information received is that the two campgrounds are proposed for 100 individual sites each, and the event sites would accommodate up to 250 people each. The address submitted in the permitting applications for the two camping sites is 2905 Gooney Manor Loop on an agriculturally zoned property; the event site’s address is listed as 0 Wellspring Road, also on the agriculturally zoned property.

One prime issue for opponents is traffic that will be created on Gooney Manor Loop, described by one area resident as an “environmentally sensitive” Rural Rustic road, often reduced to the width of one lane. But that is just one of five categories of concern listed in an online petition circulated against the proposal. Others include potentially negative impacts on well water in the area; noise and light pollution; public safety in timely emergency service responses, as well as the current lack of adequate cell phone service; and a lack of experience of the applicant in managing such commercial operations.

Browntown area photo included in ‘Stop Browntown Commercial Development’ online petition. Photo – Social Media Graphic

Stacie Mikels, who launched the opposition petition “Stop Browntown Commercial Development”, was one of several people who contacted the Royal Examiner about the Wright commercial proposals poised for permitting hearings before the planning commission this Wednesday, Nov. 10. Of what she hopes is a gathering momentum of informed dissent, she said, “A group of Browntown residents got together and formed ‘Stop Browntown Commercial Development’. We’ve made a Facebook page and have an online petition that received over 100 signatures in the first 24 hours. We’re also making an effort to inform other neighbors and individuals that use this area frequently by placing informative signs in the area.”

And she contends this opposition is not simply a “not in our backyard” stance.

“Our number one concern is public safety. We already have lengthy waits for EMS and Fire in this area due to severely limited access to fire and rescue equipment and staff/volunteers in Browntown. When you add two campgrounds and two event centers to these narrow roads, it’s a recipe for disaster,” Mikels contends, adding, “We are hopeful that many of the residents will show up and voice their concerns at the public hearing on November 10^th at 7 pm.”

Wright’s four public hearings are the 7^th through 10^th of 11 scheduled for the 7 p.m. planning commission meeting at the Warren County Government Center Wednesday evening.