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Town board approves special use permit and site plan for campground at 1196 Big Tree Road with occupancy and parking limits
Summary
The Town of Aurora board voted to grant a special use permit and approve the site plan for a campground/treehouse lodging at 1196 Big Tree Road, with conditions including 30 parking spaces (with up to 21 additional required later if needed), no outdoor wood fires, limits on amplified sound from 10 PM–8 AM, an on‑site caretaker when operating, and a cap of 100 people inclusive of staff for all events; NYSDOT requires a traffic impact study.
After a lengthy public comment period that raised traffic, parking and neighborhood‑character concerns, the Town of Aurora board approved a special use permit and site plan for Rachel Kojewski of Kerner Development Group to operate a campground with seasonal cottages, tree houses and a lodge at 1196 Big Tree Road.
The board debated occupancy and enforcement language and ultimately adopted conditions intended to limit impacts: 30 parking spaces are required with the town reserving the right to require up to 21 additional spaces later if good cause is shown; no outdoor wood fires are permitted (propane pits allowed); outdoor amplified music is restricted between 10 PM and 8 AM; and a caretaker or responsible person must be present whenever the campground operates. The board also clarified that the maximum number of people at all events shall be 100, inclusive of employees and contractors, across all events on site rather than per single pavilion only. “That resolves my concern — make it inclusive of employees and contractors,” a council member said during discussion.
The board recorded a motion, second and a voice vote approving both the special use permit and the site plan. The site plan approval record notes Erie County Department of Planning issued no recommendation and the New York State Department of Transportation flagged that a traffic impact study is required and is pending. Several residents who spoke during public comment said they were worried about late‑night noise, overflow parking and increased traffic on narrow roads; one resident asked the board to consider buffering and clearer event limits. Town staff and code enforcement said building‑code occupancy limits for the lodge/pavilion remain in effect and that parking enforcement and on‑site staffing conditions are part of the approval.
