A proposed RV campground at Bellefonte Airport (Pennsylvania), a point of contention among nearby residents, received conditional use approval from the Benner Township Board of Supervisors.
The board voted 2-0 to allow the project to move forward with 45 conditions intended to mitigate community concerns.
Supervisor Kathy Evey abstained because she owns property adjacent to the site and had spoken against the proposal during a public hearing in August.
The plan, submitted by airport owner John Elnitski, outlines up to 100 RV lots on 30 acres along the northern edge of the airport property at 225 Snowbird Lane.
Each site would have water and electricity hookups, with some units permanently placed on-site.
Supervisors said the conditions address potential impacts such as noise, lighting, pollution and traffic. “We have addressed as many possible safety issues as we possibly could to make this as community friendly as possible,” Supervisor Larry Lingle said, as reported by StateCollege.com on September 3.
The current approval follows two rejections in 2021 and 2022, when the township concluded the project did not meet zoning requirements and posed risks to public health and safety. Those decisions were upheld in court.
Township Solicitor Rodney Beard noted the proposal was significantly revised. Unlike earlier versions, which had been described as a Penn State football tailgating venue, the project is now presented as a standard RV campground. Among the attached conditions is a prohibition on tailgating and large parties.
Elnitski has said the campground is primarily intended for visiting aviators, particularly during events like Penn State football games. He added that the project could bring economic benefits to the region.
At public hearings, residents raised concerns about airport safety, increased traffic, and the possibility of trespassing on neighboring properties. Supervisors said they were limited in their ability to deny the project because it met the township’s zoning ordinance requirements.
Additional conditions require security fencing comparable to that at State College Regional Airport, landscaping to screen the campground from residences, and restricted hours of operation.
No vehicles will be permitted to enter or exit between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and noise must not be audible from outside the property.
Other stipulations include a ban on tent camping and RV sales, mandatory liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence, and rules governing stormwater and water supply use. RVs not used for 90 days must be removed, and environmental safeguards are required for vehicle fluids and washing.