Plans to develop a 100-site campground at the Bellefonte Airport have returned to Benner Township in Pennsylvania, four years after the proposal was initially rejected.
The project, led by airport manager John Elnitski, was presented to the township’s planning commission in an effort to secure a conditional use permit for the 30-acre site.
Originally introduced in 2021, the proposal includes 60 RV spaces and 40 “tiny home” spaces on the northern portion of the airport property at 225 Snowbird Lane.
The southern end would be reserved for aircraft parking aprons, taxiways, and tie-downs. Each campsite would have access to water and electricity hookups, and a clubhouse with restrooms would be built on site.
The campground is intended to attract aviation enthusiasts, particularly those visiting for Penn State football weekends, Elnitski said.
He emphasized the project’s potential to boost local economic activity.
The township previously denied the conditional use permit due to insufficient recreational space, a requirement under local ordinance.
The Elnitski family appealed the denial, eventually taking the case to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which dismissed it due to procedural issues related to the supervisors’ review of the plan.
Despite the legal dispute costing Benner Township over $32,000 in fees, the project has returned to the planning process.
According to an article published by Centre Daily Times on July 25, the planning commission unanimously voted to recommend the permit’s approval to the township supervisors, citing the plan’s compliance with current zoning requirements.
The next step is a public hearing before the township supervisors, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 7. If the conditional use permit is approved, the project will still need to pass through additional review stages by the county and township planning commissions.
Still, some commission members and residents expressed strong opposition. “To be honest with you, I think it’s a terrible idea,” commission member Lynn Chaplin, citing concerns about traffic, noise, light and air pollution, and the safety of nearby residents.
Chaplin also questioned the strength of the airport’s perimeter fence, which she said might be inadequate to stop aircraft overruns.
She was joined by several residents who criticized the project for lacking significant changes since its initial rejection and raised doubts about its compatibility with the surrounding residential area.
Elnitski defended the proposal, stating the campground would operate similarly to those in state parks, with quiet hours, site occupancy limits, and a possible seasonal guard to enforce rules.
He also noted that the number of sites could be reduced based on feedback from future meetings.