Jackson County Board of Adjustment approves conditional use permit for 73‑acre Christian campground, sets seven‑day limit

The Jackson County Board of Adjustment voted Feb. 23 to approve BOA 26‑01, a conditional‑use permit submitted by Dennis Ankenmeier to establish a low‑impact, faith‑based campground and retreat on roughly 73.08 acres near 184th Street in Perry Township.

John Williams, speaking for the applicant, described a five‑year plan that would begin with primitive tent camping and three 12‑by‑6 portable cabins in year one and add cabins and remodel an existing barn into a lodge over subsequent years. “This retreat will operate as a minimally commercial Christian camp… There will be no large scale events, no high traffic commercial operations,” Williams said, and he urged the board to approve the special‑use permit.

Resident Noel Sauer told the board the proposal would provide a more affordable, local option for churches and families, arguing that other camps “range from 500 to over $1,000” for multi‑night stays and that a local site would reduce travel burdens.

Board members questioned operational details, including sanitation and water. Williams said freshwater would be brought in (no well planned initially) and that the operation would rely on porta‑potties at first, with permanent restroom and utility upgrades planned in later years. On chaperone ratios, staff said applicable adult‑to‑child requirements would be addressed through regulatory review and conditions.

In deliberations the board referred to the county’s zoning findings (Section 4.5) and agreed to include specific recommended conditions from staff (identified in the file as numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10) and to add three additional conditions: the permit is limited to the exact site in the application, it is granted personally to Dennis Ankenmeier and is not transferable without board action, and stays will be limited to seven days or less. A board member moved to approve BOA 26‑01 subject to those conditions; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Procedural matters: earlier in the meeting the board voted to close a previously tabled special‑exemption case so the matter could be considered under the new ordinance framework. The panel also held officer elections, re‑electing Mike (referred to during roll call) as chair and confirming a vice chair by voice vote.

The board is scheduled to meet in March; staff and board members discussed calendar details before adjourning.

What the approval does and does not do: the permit approved by the board allows a phased, low‑impact campground under the conditions listed above. It does not authorize long‑term residency, and the board expressly limited stays to seven days or less and tied the permit to the owner and the parcels identified in the application. Specific operational approvals for water, sanitation and any chaperone requirements will proceed through the appropriate regulatory departments as required by county ordinance and state regulations.

The record shows public support from neighbors and church members and that the board relied on the site‑specific conditions and the county’s Section 4.5 findings in granting the permit. The next meeting of the Board of Adjustment was announced for March (date confirmation to follow).