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Vermillion County panel tables three RV/campground rezoning requests after neighbors object to safety, density and privacy risks
Summary
Neighbors at two Eugene Township properties urged the Vermillion County Area Plan Commission to deny rezoning that would allow temporary RV parks, citing privacy and safety concerns; the commission tabled three petitions to a June 25 special meeting to complete findings of fact.
The Vermillion County Area Plan Commission on June 10 heard objections from several neighbors and tabled three rezoning petitions that would allow temporary or permanent RV/campground uses on parcels near Eugene Township.
The commission opened public hearings on petitions including one filed as petition 26-02 seeking to rezone property from R2 (single-family residential) to RR (rural residence) so a temporary recreational vehicle park could operate on two adjacent parcels. Applicant Seth (identified in the record) described existing on-site utilities, five septic systems and three electrical services and said he planned to limit sites to the maximum allowed by the UDO and would install surveillance and improve the appearance of the properties.
Neighbors said those measures were insufficient. "None of the other property owners around want this here," said Brandon Chipman, who lives down the road and cited concerns about crime, noise and property values. Another neighbor who said he owns properties directly across the street raised privacy concerns, noting a backyard pool would face multiple RVs and asking whether health-department rules limiting nine units per parcel would be enforced. "We have a 91-year-old neighbor with Alzheimer's; it's a safety issue," Chelsea Johnson told the commission.
Commissioners and staff reviewed the Unified Development Ordinance’s standards for recreational vehicle parks, noting a density rule in the UDO that sets maximums (no more than four RVs per quarter acre with an absolute cap of nine RVs per lot; combinations under common ownership can trigger state permitting). Staff also clarified that a BZA variance to combine lots or exceed density cannot be pursued until the rezoning is approved, and that plan commission findings of fact accompany any recommendation to the county commissioners, who have final authority.
With outstanding questions about compatibility, enforcement and state permitting, the commission voted to table the petitions to allow staff and applicants to complete required "findings of fact" and for the parties to provide missing information. Bob Alexander made the motion to table and Ron Mack seconded; the board set a special meeting for June 25 at 6:00 p.m. to continue the cases and complete the findings.
What happens next: The APC will complete findings of fact and send a recommendation (favorable, unfavorable or no recommendation) to the county commissioners, who will make the final decision. Applicants were advised to contact the state health department about permitting thresholds if their combined lots would exceed nine sites and thereby trigger a different permitting pathway.
