The Greene County Regional Planning Commission in Tennessee unanimously approved the site plan for the 40-site Presidential View RV Ranch on Woolsey College Road in Camp Creek despite community opposition.
Residents have voiced concerns over the potential increase in traffic on the narrow Woolsey College Road and the impact of increased campfire smoke. Local resident Brian Bradley highlighted that the road is only 16 feet wide, lacking adequate space for vehicles to pass safely without one pulling off the road.
As reported by The Greenville Sun, the development also sparked legal action. Stephanie Hopson, a resident near the proposed site, filed a lawsuit to stop the development. The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the RV park’s construction.
Attorney Richard Graves, representing Hopson, suggested a condition to prohibit individual campfires at the site. “At a minimum, you should impose a condition on any approval that there cannot be individual campfires. If you get 40 campfires going, that’s a lot of smoke, that’s a nuisance to the area,” Graves explained.
Other residents raised concerns about additional RV traffic, particularly about the narrow road and its sharp curves. Additionally, some highlighted the area’s susceptibility to high winds, which pose significant safety risks to both campers and local residents.
“I want everybody to consider the wind, and the 107 miles per hour we had earlier this year and what that looked like and how many RVs were tipped over and damaged from that,” local resident Danielle Orlando said.
Despite the development concerns, the RV park developers have met all current zoning requirements set by the Greene County Commission. Adamec mentioned that they invested $1.5 million in the project, with total expected costs reaching $5 million.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will still have to review the site plan before it can be finalized.
For private RV park owners and campground operators, the debate surrounding the Presidential View RV Ranch highlights the importance of community engagement and proactive safety measures. Engaging with local residents early and consistently allows developers to address concerns before they escalate into legal challenges and helps build positive relationships. This proactive approach can lead to smoother development approvals and enhance community support for the project.