A group of citizens gathered at the Morgan County Planning Commission meeting on June 25 to express their concerns about the approval of a Commercial Improvement Location Permit for Scenic LLC. The permit allows the construction of an RV campground facility in Great Cacapon, near the Panorama Overlook and outside the village of Great Cacapon.
Scenic LLC, the owners of the campground facility, have requested a KOA branding for the site. The proposed campground will have 173 sites on approximately 50 acres of the old Noland Farm along Cacapon Road.
The property, owned by Aaron Bills, is bordered by the CSX railroad to the north and the Cacapon River to the west.
The campground plans include various amenities such as RV sites, cabins, yurts, tents, a check-in office, maintenance building, swimming pool bathhouse facilities, mini-golf, sports court, playground areas, dog parks, and pavilions.
The Morgan County Planning Commission approved the Commercial permit for the project on May 23, 2023, with a split 6-4 vote after a lively public hearing with a large crowd in attendance.
Last Tuesday, June 25, around 30 opponents of the project attended the regular meeting of the Morgan County Planning Commission. These opponents aimed to push for a re-vote on the permit. Construction has not yet begun at the site.
During the meeting, planning board member Marshall Younker announced that a gentleman was scheduled to speak on the project but did not attend. Instead, Christina Vogt spoke on his behalf.
Vogt criticized the planning board for only allowing five minutes of discussion on a topic that had attracted so many people to the meeting.
She emphasized that the planning board has a responsibility to address the concerns of the constituents of Morgan County. Vogt accused the planners of approving the commercial permit without conducting proper due diligence to ensure that all aspects of the permit application were completed and all necessary permissions were obtained. This includes highway entrance permits, erosion control plans, water source permitting, wastewater treatment permits, and more.
Vogt also asserted that a hydrogeologic study should be conducted to assess the impact of the campground’s water usage, which is estimated to be 7,000 gallons per month from the ground.
Furthermore, Vogt criticized the planners for accepting a historical survey review that did not consider the historical significance of an Indian settlement in the area.
She highlighted the concerns of the Great Cacapon community regarding RVs using Cacapon Road, traffic safety over Cacapon Mountain, environmental impacts of a fully operational RV park, and potential archaeological items on the property.
Vogt concluded by stating that these issues remain unresolved and accused the planners of neglecting their due diligence. She warned that legal action may be taken as a result.
During the public comment period, some members of the audience called for the resignation of planning board members. It is important to note that these board members are volunteers appointed by the County Commission.
In response, the planners briefly stated that the project submission met the county’s rules for commercial development and had obtained the necessary state and federal permits to proceed.
Younker added that there had been extensive discussion during the public hearing in 2023, and the developer’s commercial building permit is valid for five years.
What are your thoughts on the proposed RV campground facility in Great Cacapon? Share your opinions and concerns!
