Commission approves conditional-use permit and rezoning to formalize long-running campground in floodplain with conditions

The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 17 recommended approval of a conditional-use permit (PC25-1) for a private campground and approved a rezoning (PR25-1) removing a recreational overlay from an agricultural parcel, subject to conditions addressing floodplain restrictions, traffic and sanitation.

Brad Wyland, Planner II with Linn County Planning and Development, told commissioners the property has operated as a campground on a temporary or annual basis for roughly 15–16 years after cabins were lost in the 2008 flood. The proposal would formalize seasonal camping from April 1 through Oct. 31, permit up to 17 campsites and retain one existing seasonal cabin while removing the REC overlay from part of the parcel.

Wyland said the entire site lies in a floodplain or floodway with more restrictive rules and that the county and state agencies had requested conditions to reduce flood risk. “We do believe all of these are met,” Wyland said of standards for review, but he noted that the Department of Transportation requires a traffic impact study and the Department of Natural Resources will oversee any permanent septic or wastewater work.

The application covers about 131 acres for the conditional-use request and 91 acres for the rezoning area, Wyland said. He described other conditions: a campground manager designated as the county contact, removal of several sheds located in the floodway, a limit of 17 campsites and compliance with DOT-mandated traffic/access improvements.

No members of the public spoke during the open comment period for these cases. Staff noted the campground historically operated under temporary permits and that the DNR had encouraged a conditional-use permit rather than annual renewals due to floodplain concerns.

After brief discussion the commission moved and seconded approval of the conditional-use permit; a roll-call vote recorded Grama, DuBois, Koontz and Brecht as voting aye. The commission then voted to approve the rezoning from REC-Ag to Ag under the stated conditions. Both recommendations will go forward to the Board of Supervisors with staff conditions attached.

Brad Wyland told the commission that public health currently relies on temporary porta-potties at the site and that any proposal to install permanent septic would require DNR review rather than county public-health final approval. He also said the DOT’s access conditions could require a traffic study or other mitigation before final approval at the Board of Supervisors stage.

The commission’s recommendations are advisory; final authority for conditional-use permits and rezoning rests with the Board of Supervisors, which will review the staff conditions and recommendation at a future meeting once the record is complete.