Louisa County planners refine campground rules, schedule vote to set public hearing

At a Louisa County Planning Commission work session, staff presented revisions to the county’s campground regulations that separate campgrounds into two categories and spell out minimum acreage, permit paths and fees.

Staff planner Chris said the draft now defines a major campground as a commercial operation requiring a conditional use permit with a 10‑acre minimum for at least three campsites (additional sites require two acres each) and a minor campground as a by‑right use limited to fewer than three campsites with a 3‑acre minimum and an administrative site plan. "We differentiated between major and minor campground," Chris said, summarizing the changes.

Why it matters: the edits change how short‑term recreational shelters will be regulated across Louisa County — whether a small cluster of RVs or tents can operate by right with restrictions, or must pursue a CUP and the public review that accompanies it.

The draft lists compliance steps and fees: staff described a base $7.50 fee tied to the CUP process for a major campground, a site‑plan base of $300 plus $17.50 for review and $150 per acre, and a county electrical permit of $76.50 per pedestal. Staff also quoted Virginia Department of Health (VDH) fees as a $40 base, $40 plan review and a large component described in the transcript as "$1,400 for the 1000st gallons" for septic-related review; Chris characterized the VDH/septic review cost for a major campground as "between, like, $8 to $15,000".

Commissioner George Goodwin sharply objected to allowing a minor campground category by right, warning the commission it would create scattered one‑ and two‑site operations across the county that "are impossible, absolutely impossible for current staff to oversee." Goodwin said repeated, dispersed sites would return the county to the problem the ordinance was intended to fix. Staff responded the by‑right option includes substantial standards — registration with community development, a permanent contact number for the manager, campground layout, emergency procedures and a 100‑foot landscape buffer — and that enforcement would rely on complaint-driven zoning action escalating to civil penalties and, if necessary, court involvement.

Planning staff and commissioners discussed scheduling: the commission agreed the chair would entertain a motion at the July 7:00 meeting to decide whether to send the revised ordinance to a public hearing in August or, if scheduling constraints justify it, September. Staff told the commission it will return with a refined draft ordinance in August for review prior to a public hearing.

Next steps: staff will provide a written draft ordinance for review before the July 7 meeting; the commission will vote at that meeting on whether to advance the campground changes to a public hearing and the commission indicated September may be preferable if member availability or additional refinements are needed.