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Bayfield County postpones vote on proposed 50-site Russell campground over town notice and sanitary testing questions
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Committee postponed a conditional use permit for a proposed 50-site campground in the Town of Russell to July 16, 2026, citing concerns about whether the town properly posted a revised application and questions about the site’s soil evaluation and sanitary approach.
The Bayfield County Planning and Zoning Committee voted unanimously to postpone action on a conditional use permit for a proposed 50-site campground in the Town of Russell until its July 16, 2026 meeting. The committee said the delay will allow the Town of Russell to clarify its posting of the revised application and give the county time to re-notice the request.
The applicant, JRT Property Management LLC, and agent Tim Clark sought county approval to construct and operate a 50-site campground on four parcels totaling roughly 18.38 acres in a Residential-Recreational Business (R‑RB) zoning district. Ruth Hulstrom, Bayfield County zoning director, read a letter from the Town of Russell about possible restrictions on Old County Road K and described the site as having no mapped floodplains or wetlands, but subject to a 75-foot setback because of a navigable intermittent stream. Hulstrom also noted that county ordinance requires an opaque screen.
Neighbors raised proximity and process concerns during the public hearing. Several nearby residents — Brianna Bailey, Yvonne Cox, Tom Galazen and Jessica Waclawski — spoke in opposition; one community member, Megan Weeden, asked to speak in support and was permitted by the committee. During committee discussion, members questioned the authorship and independence of the soil report cited in public comment and whether proper town posting procedures had been followed.
Agent Tim Clark confirmed to the committee that he completed the soil evaluation and said the plan would use holding tanks initially, with potential future installation of a mound sanitary system after further testing in two to three years. The committee clarified that the current permit request does not ask for immediate installation of a mound system.
Committee member Fred Strand moved to postpone the item so the Town of Russell could properly post and consider the application at its regularly scheduled July meeting and so the county could re-notice the request. The motion, seconded by Jeff Holte, carried 5–0. Strand said that even if a 24-hour notice standard were met, the abbreviated posting could have limited public opportunity to provide input.
Next steps: the item was rescheduled for the P&Z Committee meeting on July 16, 2026, and county staff indicated they will assist with re-noticing and collecting any additional town documentation about the application’s handling.
