The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 13 referred Resolution 2025-80—an application for an RV park and short-term cabin rental on Southeast Woodring Road in Monmouth Township—back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration, following extended public comment and changes to the applicant’s proposal.

Joanie Thadani, director of the planning department, told the board the original plan presented to the Planning Commission had been substantially revised by the applicant and that staff recommended returning the new proposal to the Planning Commission for review. The parcel is approximately 119 acres; the applicant revised the plan to remove RV sites and to request permission for 15 cabins. Thadani said the cabins would be two-bedroom units with water, wastewater and electricity hookups, and that the applicant does not propose a bathhouse or laundry facilities.

At the Planning Commission hearing in September, Thadani said the Planning Commission recommended denial by a 4–0 vote; staff had recommended approval. Thadani said the county sent 13 letters to property owners within 1,000 feet (including owners in neighboring Douglas County) and received five written objections. Protest petitions were filed at the county clerk’s office; Thadani said the mapping of the protests means a future board approval would require a unanimous vote.

Dozens of residents spoke at the county meeting and raised safety and process concerns. Mitch Nierim, a resident of Southeast Woodring Road, said the original record about a prior camp was inaccurate and argued the proposal would "almost double" the local population and leave the neighborhood with less control over road and trespass problems. He asked the board to deny the conditional-use request rather than remand it. Summer Weaver, who lives on a portion of the former Camp Hammond property, said the revised plans "change the character of the neighborhood too much." Tim Fritz, who described hunting access on nearby land, said the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism had recommended a 200-yard firearms buffer around any public-access RV park monitored by the state; he urged the commission to consider that during review.

Other speakers flagged road safety and maintenance: Bill Bonjour, clerk for Monmouth Township, said the township maintains a mile of Woodring Road and that "our roads won't take it" and that none of the township board members received notification. Pat Walmsdale said a stretch of road in the area has been deemed unsafe by the U.S. Postal Service and argued that directing additional traffic onto narrow, low-water crossings would be hazardous. Residents also said the scope of the proposal had changed at multiple stages, creating confusion about what was being reviewed.

Commissioner Mayes moved to return the item to the Planning Commission for rehearing on Nov. 10; Commissioner Bill Rippon seconded. The motion passed 3–0.

Thadani told the board she recommends the Planning Commission hear the revised proposal at its Nov. 10 meeting at 6 p.m. so the changes can be considered before any final county decision.