The Washburn County Board of Adjustment (Wisconsin) denied reconsidering or rehearing to overturn a conditional-use permit (CUP) for North Camp Properties II LLC for a campground on Spooner Lake.
According to a report, North Camp Properties II and Steve Austin acquired the property in the Spooner Lake area for a seasonal RV campground with 200-plus sites on 540 acres of land adjacent to Spooner and Evergreen lakes.
The acres were bought from the Gene Thompson Trust and Thompson Family Partnerships, and Austin said the land would have access to trails, wildlife terrains, and forests. Austin also said it would be set far enough back from the lake that residents would not be able to see or hear it from their homes.
Spooner Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Spooner was able to file an appeal to the Board of Adjustment (BOA), which was heard in May.
The district is concerned about how a campground of this size can impact the area, which includes pollution, septic issues with the quantity of daily waste projections, the impact on the natural resources and water quality, and many other issues. After much debate from both parties, the BOA upheld North Camp Properties’ CUP.
The Lake District filed in circuit court at the same time it filed the appeal to the BOA and, at its June meeting, moved to allocate $10,000 in undesignated district funds for the prosecution of the campground appeal, assessing $20,000 for legal fees (contingent upon raising $30,000 from private donations) and to recommend this option for the prosecution to the district membership meeting in September.
On July 5, the BOA discussed rehearing or reconsidering upholding the Washburn County Plan Commission’s decision to issue the CUP to North Camp Properties. Zoning Administrator Dale “Butch” Beers said the board denied the motion.
“It’s going to have to go through the courts now,” Beers said.
Lake District board member Ed Fischer stated that the district is now waiting for the BOA to finalize its formal decision so that they can amend their circuit court filing and then proceed with the certiorari appeal to the court.
This story originally appeared on Spooner Advocate.
Did you know the campground planned a Sasquatch Sighting Tour? Talk about attracting Bigfoot fans! And get this, rumor has it the Lake District members were ready to be environmental superheroes, capes and all, to battle the campground. Now that’s a twist!
Really? That campground had a Sasquatch Sighting Tour in the works? That sounds like a real hit with visitors! What other unique attractions were they planning?