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Plan commission recommends conditional approval of Moose Lodge camping changes, limits stays to members and 15 days
Summary
The Germantown Plan Commission recommended changes to the Moose Lodge's conditional use permit, approving a revised seasonal window but retaining limits on duration and requiring membership-only overnight parking plus added sanitary and monitoring conditions. The recommendation goes to the village board June 1.
The Germantown Plan Commission on May 11 recommended that the village board approve a partial amendment to Conditional Use Permit 07-2011 for EKM Moose Lodge No. 1238, approving a revised seasonal window but denying the lodge's request to remove a restriction on stay duration in full.
Community development staff presented the application and recommended denying removal of the existing three-day-per-vehicle limit while approving a seasonal change from March'September to April 15'Oct. 15, together with eight conditions to address monitoring and sanitary concerns. Staff told commissioners it had observed vehicles staying longer than three days during a 2025 monitoring visit and that some of those vehicles were associated with construction crews working on a pipeline project.
"Everybody that needs that is a... they are members," Mary Orini, the lodge vice president, said in the public hearing, denying staff's assertion that non-members had been staying on the property. She asked the commission to lift duration limits so Moose members who travel for work can remain in Germantown and spend money in local businesses.
Commissioners focused the discussion on three main concerns: how the lodge would ensure only members stay on site, sanitary disposal of RV waste after a Washington County official said direct dumping into a holding tank is not permitted, and the presence of an unpermitted shipping container used for storage. Staff said the lodge had allowed RV users to empty gray and black water into an on-site holding tank and had not yet provided documentation from Washington County or the state to show compliance.
After discussion and public comment, the commission moved to approve staff recommendations with amendments. The approved recommendation retained the change to the seasonal window, added an option that the lodge obtain required state sanitary permits, required permanent indoor bathroom and shower facilities available 24/7 for overnight members, a guest log for village monitoring, and a 24/7 emergency contact for on-site issues. Commissioners amended the proposal to strike cars and SUVs from the allowed overnight vehicle list, specify that overnight parking be limited to Moose members only, and cap stays at 15 days per vehicle per month. The amended motion passed by voice vote.
Jeff (community development staff) said the plan commission's action is a recommendation; the village board will make the final decision and is expected to consider the amendment at its June 1 meeting.
Why it matters: The decision balances the lodge's argument that longer stays support members and local spending against village concerns about sanitation, compliance and the risk that the site could function like a campground. The requirement for sanitary permits and permanent indoor facilities aims to reduce public-health and infrastructure risk should longer stays be allowed.
Next steps: The plan commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the village board for final action at a forthcoming meeting, likely June 1.
