Sweetwater County approves 11-site campground permit for Jared Triplett with conditions after safety debate

Sweetwater County commissioners on May 20 approved a conditional use permit allowing a proposed 11-site campground on private land owned by Jared Triplett, but added conditions and restrictions after public safety and nuisance concerns from neighbors.

Planning staff told the board the proposal was for an 11-space campground in an agricultural zone near County Road 1 (McKinnon Road) and U.S. Highway 414; sites would rely on a septic holding tank, a private well, and power from Bridger Valley Electric, and the applicant planned an on-site administrative building and electric pedestals at each site. County planner Cassidy Brown said staff found the application met zoning resolution provisions and the county comprehensive plan’s goals for regulated outdoor recreation, but identified potential impacts for nearby residents and agency concerns that warranted conditions.

The board heard about both a petition of support submitted by the applicant and a community petition opposing the project. Neighbors raised repeated concerns about fire risk (noting strong local winds and nearby dry brush), vehicle and pedestrian safety at a nearby school-bus pickup location, trash and sanitation, noise and generator use, long-term occupancy that could become workforce housing, and limited local law-enforcement and fire response. Under Sheriff Joseph Tomich told staff the sheriff’s office would assume primary jurisdiction for the unincorporated area but that there are no resident deputies stationed at McKinnon; he also noted campgrounds and dispersed camping sites typically generate additional calls to law enforcement based on experience with BLM and USFS campgrounds.

Applicant Jared Triplett addressed concerns at the hearing, describing plans for raised, ringed fire pits, a nearby water source for fire suppression, an on-site dumpster with scheduled removal, quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., limiting stays to 28 consecutive calendar days (he said he would post a reservation calendar online to reduce loopholes), and a ban on fireworks. Triplett said the campground was intended to be seasonal and aimed at recreational visitors rather than housing a temporary workforce.

Planning and zoning staff summarized public and agency comments and presented recommended conditions the P&Z commission had forwarded to the board. P&Z recommended approval with conditions including: WDEQ approval and installation of the septic holding tank before occupancy; electric pedestals at each campsite; the permit be personal to the applicant and follow the submitted site plan; county right-of-way not be encroached; and a maximum 28-day stay in any calendar month. Staff noted additional conditions discussed by P&Z (not part of the P&Z motion) included an on-site covered dumpster, perimeter privacy fencing, and a seasonal operation window.

Commission debate focused on the 28-day stay limit and whether the language allowed a loophole enabling continuous occupancy across calendar months. Commissioners proposed alternatives (for example, 16 days in any 60-day period or 21 noncontiguous days) to close that loophole; Triplett opposed stricter limits, saying longer stays are critical to making the seasonal business viable. Commissioners also discussed tying open-fire use to BLM fire restrictions and using fire-retardant materials for perimeter fencing; Triplett agreed to a fireworks prohibition and said he would provide enclosed fire rings and on-site water sources.

Commissioner Slaughter moved approval with edits: remove the strict seasonal/dates and the original 28-day wording, require the perimeter fence to use fire-resistant materials or treatment, require the operator to observe BLM or other fire restrictions when issued, and prohibit fireworks; Commissioner Richards seconded. Commissioner Tillman cast the lone “no” vote, citing landowner concerns. The motion passed 4–1. The board’s approval included the P&Z-recommended conditions and the additional fire- and fireworks-related safeguards discussed at the hearing.

What the permit requires: the applicant must obtain WDEQ approval for the septic holding tank and construct it before occupancy, install electrical pedestals at each campsite, keep the operation personal to the property owner and the approved site plan, avoid encroaching the county right of way, and operate under the stay and fire-use conditions the commission approved. If the applicant proposes changes to the site plan, those changes must be reviewed by land use staff before they are implemented.

Why it matters: the hearing highlighted tension common in rural counties between small-scale tourism/economic development and neighbors’ concerns about safety, emergency-response capacity, noise and nuisance, and long-term land-use impacts. Commissioners left a mixture of operational requirements and fire-safety conditions intended to limit public-safety risk while allowing the landowner to pursue a seasonal campground business.

The board’s full motion and the list of final permit conditions are part of the meeting record.