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Planning commission finalizes draft personal campground definition; members debate 50‑foot setback for campsites
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a final draft to adopt a personal campground definition as a by‑right use in C‑1, A‑1 and R‑1 districts, clarified that more than three sites requires a campground permit and that any compensated campsite requires a special use permit. Commissioners discussed adding a 50‑foot setback from adjacent properties for campsites.
The Madison County Planning Commission reviewed and accepted a final draft defining "personal campgrounds" at its March 25 workshop and prepared it for public hearing.
Planning staff said the final draft, revised after earlier discussion, makes personal campgrounds a by‑right use in C‑1 conservation, A‑1 agricultural, and R‑1 residential districts. The draft carries a clear threshold: three or more campsites triggers a campground permit from the health department; any campsite used for compensation requires a special use permit under existing county rules.
Commissioners discussed whether to add a specific setback for campsites in the R‑1 district. One commissioner proposed a 50‑foot minimum distance from an adjacent property line for primitive campsites, noting R‑1 lots are often smaller than agricultural parcels. Other commissioners raised concerns that a 50‑foot requirement would be stricter than many existing yard setbacks and might be difficult to enforce; no change was adopted at the workshop. Planning staff said the current language already includes setback and health department requirements for compensated sites and that specific setback language could be considered before the public hearing if the commission chooses.
No formal vote to adopt the ordinance was taken at the workshop; staff said the language in the packet will move to the public hearing unless commissioners request additional edits.
