Planning commission denies conditional use permit for proposed RV park at former Camp Hammond; matter moves to county commissioners

The Shawnee County Planning Commission voted to deny a conditional use permit application to convert the east side of the former Camp Hammond property into a year-round RV park and short-term-rental cabin facility.

The application proposed 43 RV sites and 12 cabins on about 119.1 acres, with cabins concentrated on the east side of the lake and RV sites located nearby. Staff described site utilities and operations in detail: cabins would include water, sewer and electric; RV sites would have water and electric hookups plus a centralized dump station; there would be no bathhouse or laundry facilities; maximum stays would be 30 nights with a required 5-night break before returning; bookings would be available online, by phone or in person; quiet hours were to be 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; pets were to be leashed; a speed limit of 12 mph was proposed; and the applicant's business plan limited site access to designated routes.

Staff recommended approval with multiple conditions intended to address public-safety and infrastructure concerns. Conditions included: ensuring emergency-vehicle access…