Ganges Township in Michigan has enacted a one-year moratorium on new campground developments, though the measure does not apply to the proposed Saugatuck Meadows Campground that remains under review.
According to an article published by Holland Sentinel on June 12, the township board voted 4-0 in favor of the moratorium during its meeting, with Trustee George Thompson absent.
Supervisor John Herbert said legal counsel advised the township that existing applications could not be included in the halt.
“You cannot impose a moratorium of action that’s in place,” Trustee Dick Hutchins said during the meeting, addressing frustration from residents who wanted the Saugatuck Meadows plan blocked.
The moratorium is intended to give township officials time to consider potential changes to local zoning ordinances governing campgrounds.
The decision follows growing resident concerns about noise, traffic and environmental impacts from new developments.
According to the report, a May 28 public hearing on the Saugatuck Meadows proposal drew a large crowd. The project, planned across the street from Campit Outdoor Resort on 118th Avenue, would cover 25 acres with 89 campsites.
Campit owner Michael O’Connor is a partner in the new project, but applicant Bobbi Jo Beyersdorf told officials the proposed campground would not expand Campit’s operations.
Residents argue that Campit already contributes to noise and congestion in the area. “Since all of this started several months ago, (Campit) … has only accelerated his defiance of the ordinances,” resident Stephanie Hughes explained.
Campit Outdoor Resort has operated since the early 2000s on 33 acres zoned for commercial use. The resort offers tent and RV camping, cabins, a heated pool, and other recreational amenities.
The Ganges Township Planning Commission is set to revisit the Saugatuck Meadows application in July.
Updated site plans and detailed construction drawings must be submitted and reviewed by state and county agencies before the project can move forward.