Citizens of Burnett County:
Enough is Enough.
So-called "campgrounds" are spreading like invasive weeds. Help preserve Burnett County's rural way of life.
The issue
What Happened?
Burnett County is a beautiful place to live, work, raise a family and retire. People live here and vacation here because of the pristine nature, abundant wildlife and its crystal clear lakes. Tourists and cabin-owners come to get away from crowds, noise and pollution in the city. People who live here stay because of its rural, small-town character, safe and low-key. We all love to fish, boat, hunt, ride or camp.
It makes sense for Burnett County to maintain -- better yet, enhance its outstanding characteristics. That is why Preserve Burnett County (PBC) is fighting high-density RV parks -- or what operators like County Supervisor and Oak Ridge resort owner Steve Austin call "campgrounds."
Time and technology have completely changed “campgrounds” from a temporary, over-night stay in a tent or small pop-up camper. Now they're crammed with long-term, expandable homes on wheels with full kitchens and king-size beds, all with full utility hookups. They have storage sheds and screen porches. Today’s RV Parks create instant communities of 400-600 people that are high-density, unlike anything else around them.
All this was made possible by county ordinances and state statutes that have not kept up with the times, allowing profit-focused developers the opportunity to exploit the intent of specific zoning designations through the use of “conditional use permits,” or CUPs. An approved CUP allows placement in residential or agricultural areas. You end up with 600 campers next to 50 cows. Or 600 campers doubling the population of a tiny lake, darn near overnight.
We need a plan that preserves our precious resources and supports development that is consistent with the comprehensive land use plans that have been enacted by local townships and the county. Local control. And we need to promote economic development that is broad-based and doesn’t concentrate wealth in the hands of a fortunate few. That kind of plan has the support of just about everyone.
The issue
It Doesn't Add Up
These "campgrounds" create a couple real aggravations. For one, campers in Wisconsin are not required to pay property taxes like a person living in a house or cabin. This leaves the county with no additional tax revenue to fund schools, roads and first responders (law enforcement, firefighters and ambulances).
- Campers pay sales tax, but 90% goes to the state.
- Property taxes paid by seasonal campground residents are pennies on the dollar compared to other county residents.
Ironically, there's also no funding to cover the increasing cost of making sure "campgrounds" are following the rules like the rest of us must.
And the "campground" owner? Development is at the heart of the county's economic health, it's usually good for every member of the community. But the way these campgrounds are zoned, most of the money is funneled into the business man's bank account, not the county's. And the business man is not going to pave the road for you.
A second poke in the eye is that "campgrounds" are allowed to completely skirt zoning laws limiting residential development that apply to everyone else. Today, if you wanted to build on 10 acres of vacant agricultural land, you can build one home. But, if you wanted to build a "campground," you can shoehorn 100 RVs into that same parcel. Huh?? Right.
We are looking for a sane solution. The passing of the four month Campground Moratorium on March 18th is a great start and we thank the County Board of Supervisors! Now they can dig in and figure out what's best for the taxpayers and voters of Burnett County.
Why not put high-density campgrounds in or near commercial districts? They'd be in walking distance of bars and restaurants, recreational and entertainment, not to mention emergency services. Campgrounds in existing or new commercial areas would provide a needed boost to the local economy, revitalizing villages and giving campers an opportunity to sample the many benefits of small-town living. Now that makes sense.
