Commissioners conditionally discuss Woodland Church’s proposed religious campground, including cabins, access and liability safeguards

Woodland Church representatives, planning staff and commissioners discussed a special-exception application to permit a religious campground/retreat on roughly 132.25 acres on North McDonough Road. Staff described the use as limited to church-sponsored retreats and similar events, not a public campground, and provided a draft package of approval conditions intended to limit impacts and define operational controls.

Why it matters: The proposal would allow the church to host organized, overnight religious retreats with permanent cabins and programmed outdoor activities on property that is not open to the general public. Because the use includes overnight stays and on-site activities, commissioners focused on public safety, traffic/turning-lane improvements, water/septic permitting, and protections to prevent the site from being used as an open-ended residential or treatment facility.