The Warren County Planning Commission voted Oct. 8 to forward a recommendation of approval to the Board of Supervisors for a conditional use permit allowing private, noncommercial camping at 1020 Misty Meadow Lane in the Massanutten View subdivision.

Planning staff explained the request: the property is zoned Residential-1, located in a special flood-hazard area, and the owner seeks intermittent, noncommercial camping for the owner, family members and guests (no fee charged). The Warren County Zoning Ordinance’s definition of private-use camping limits occupancy to no more than two major recreational vehicles used for living or sleeping on a lot under single ownership, limited to owner/family/guests and not-for-profit.

Staff recommended the commission attach conditions if it forwarded the CUP, including: compliance with all Warren County Health Department regulations; storing camper materials neatly and removing them when not in use; posting the parcel number for fire and rescue and maintaining an emergency egress plan for removal of recreational vehicles and portable commode prior to a predicted flood event. Staff also noted one anonymous complaint submitted and that the site has one other active CUP for private-use camping about nine parcels away.

Applicant John Ellis (address on record provided at the hearing) confirmed he does not currently reside at the property but purchased it in 1999 and uses it intermittently. A neighbor provided brief comment that there are no fences in the flood plain and said the trailer parked there is road-ready and movable.

After staff and the applicant spoke, a motion to forward the CUP to the Board of Supervisors with the recommended staff conditions was made and seconded. The commission voted in favor and the motion passed.