Jackson County board tables request for six private campsites at Sargent property

The Jackson County Board of Adjustment on May 27 tabled a special-exception application from property owner Daniel Sargent that would create six privately operated campsites on land zoned A-1 agriculture at 18237 Highway 62.

The request — filed as Docket 205-03 — sought a special exception to allow a campground use in A-1. Sargent told the board he recently “bought a bulldozer, put in the pond in my property” and has begun installing gravel pads and electricity where he would locate the sites. He said the campsites would be for friends and family, not for public rental: “No money in transaction. This is just something that I decided I wanted to do for family.”

Neighbors and renters of adjacent properties told the board they were concerned about noise, ATVs, septic disposal and whether the use could later become commercial. Austin Debbie, who said he rents ground owned by Dennis and Vicky Feldman, asked about limits on duration, “Is there anything that’s gonna stop them from, you know, just being saying, hey, I have a camper. I’m just gonna live here?” He also raised runoff risks to a spring-fed creek on nearby land and asked what would prevent improper disposal of gray and black water.

Why it matters: The board must decide whether the private campground is an allowable conditional use in agricultural zoning and, if so, what conditions to impose. Neighbors said unresolved details on wastewater handling and enforceability could affect nearby livestock operations and water resources.

Board and staff discussion centered on several practical checks the board would expect before making a decision. Zoning staff and board members repeatedly said the county would need verification from the health department and possibly the DNR that the existing wastewater system can handle multiple campers. Zoning administrator Laurie Rolling told the board that “that’s not something that we do; that’s gonna be done by environmental health.” Staff also noted the property currently has an existing 1,500-gallon septic tank connected to the shop, and Sargent said electrical service is in place to the pads.

Board members and staff suggested specific, enforceable conditions that could be attached to any approval: limiting camping seasonally (a board member suggested May through October), banning fireworks, prohibiting septic dumping, requiring no advertising or any commercial exchange for use of sites, and clarifying that approval would not transfer automatically to a subsequent owner. Several members said a clearly written notice of decision with enumerated conditions would be important for enforcement and for neighbors to know who to contact if violations occur.

Public-process steps and outcome: The board closed the public hearing on the item and later voted to table the application until staff could obtain health‑department verification and draft potential conditions. A motion to table carried after a second; the board took no final action to grant or deny the special exception. Staff told the applicant that neighbor notification would not need to be reissued and that the item would be placed on the next agenda for continued consideration.

Details and outstanding points: - Address and parcel: Sargent cited the property as 18237 Highway 62, about three miles out of Andrew toward Bellevue; the six campsite pads sit near a recently installed pavilion and a new pond. - Number of sites: Six campsites were proposed; Sargent said they would be gravel pads with electrical service and not permanent placements. - Wastewater: Sargent said an older 1,500-gallon tank serves the shop; staff and neighbors raised concerns that the tank must be verified as sized for multiple campers and that environmental‑health approval could be required. - Neighbors: Liz and Tyler (last name appears in records as Clark) submitted written comments in support/with questions; Dennis and Vicky Feldman had questions and sent a written list; Austin Debbie spoke on their behalf noting Dennis recently had a stroke and cannot attend. - Noise and access: Neighbors expressed concern about party noise, fireworks and increased ATV traffic along the state highway and local gravel roads; enforcement of ATVs on private property was described as a sheriff’s office issue.

What’s next: The board asked staff to request formal verification from environmental health on septic capacity and to prepare draft conditions the board could consider when the application returns to the agenda. The hearing will be continued at the board’s next scheduled meeting; staff confirmed no new neighbor mailings are required for the continuation.

Ending: Sargent remains eligible to return with evidence from the health department and any proposed condition language; the board will reconsider the application after staff follow-up.