Hubbard County approves preliminary plat for Camp Courage North with conditions to protect shoreline and historic structures

The Hubbard County Board on Feb. 17 approved a preliminary plat that would subdivide the roughly 96-acre Camp Courage North property on Lake George into 17 residential lots, but only after adding conditions intended to address septic, shoreline and historic-structure concerns raised by residents and staff.

Residents urged the board to consider alternatives to subdivision and to preserve the camp’s historic and environmental features. “Courage North is facing a threat to its legacy,” said Sue Jesse, a Lake George resident who asked the county to explore preservation options and said she had tried to contact the owner, True Friends. Jesse described the property’s history, existing cabins, a dining hall and an 8,000-square-foot main building and said the site includes mature pines, wetlands and shoreline that make development risky.

Environmental staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat with two Planning Commission conditions: complete a Torrens registration for a small abstract portion of the property before the final plat application and abandon two septic tanks that do not meet setbacks. Eric, an environmental services staff member, told the board a licensed county contractor had evaluated potential septic sites and that applicants had already permitted modifications that converted certain failing drain fields to holding-tank configurations to address noncompliance.

The board added a third condition requiring nonconforming shoreline structures within the shore-impact or high-water setback to be removed or brought into compliance. The board also agreed to allow the applicant to submit the final plat application while the Torrens process is still underway, provided the Torrens registration is complete before the final plat is recorded.

Jeremy Donahue, who identified himself as a potential purchaser, said the buyers are willing to remove structures and suggested a bonding arrangement so demolition funds would be available if removal did not occur after final recording. “We are okay with tearing everything down,” Donahue said, and offered an estimate of $31,900 for demolition from a local contractor; the board discussed a 1.5× performance standard based on that estimate and settled on a six-month timeline for removal as part of the final conditions.

Commissioners stressed the limits of county authority over prior private sales: the chair told residents the county cannot nullify a sale if legal title issues had been properly handled, but it can apply its shoreland and subdivision ordinances to the plat application. Eric said the plat meets lot-size requirements for single-family lots, but that shoreland setbacks, septic separation, and the fate of several existing buildings remained issues for the board and for conditions attached to final approval.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the preliminary plat consistent with the Planning Commission’s recommendations and the board’s added conditions; the measure was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Next steps: applicants may submit the final plat application for the March planning commission agenda, with county staff and legal counsel to draft the wording for the Torrens and bonding conditions to appear in the final-plat approval paperwork.