The Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors approved an application from BR Smith Properties seeking conditional use for a proposed campground in the Mixed Use (MX) zoning district located at 75 Cunningham Road.
The site is the former home of Boyds Bears Country Barn, which is being developed into an upscale restaurant, hotel, and campground known as The Barn Resort.
The campground will cover 33 acres adjoining Freedom and Cumberland Townships and calls for about 365 individual camping sites.
The board also set a public hearing date for the transfer request of an inter-municipal liquor license for the restaurant at the resort. The public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. on July 25, with the regular board meeting immediately following the conclusion of the hearing.
Conditional use conditions placed on the campground include, among others, a 35 ft minimum distance of the campsite from adjacent residential sites; daily trash regulations; pet regulations; prohibition on fireworks; emergency plan requirements; a period of quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m; sound barriers, screening barriers, and limitations on stay to a maximum 2 weeks.
Prior to the vote, residents from the adjoining neighborhoods expressed concerns about noise and visual effects (one elderly neighbor’s bedroom is located only six feet from the campground property line) and the overall “catastrophic” effect on their quality of life. Of particular concern was the added strain on surrounding water wells due to the expected increase in water usage.
Some neighbors reported seeing water trucks from a water company owned by B.R. Smith regularly hauling loads of water from the proposed campsite. One of the residents warned the board that the applicant had not been “transparent” with the township leadership about its agenda to siphon off water from the site for their own water company.
Solicitor Sam Wiser said the township was obliged legally to approve the conditional use application, as long as it did not pose a danger to the public and complied with all local regulations. Wiser further assured the concerned neighbors that the applicants would have to show in their final land development plan that the development will meet multiple requirements, including proof that it will have no impact on water availability to the site and surrounding neighborhoods.
For more information about this project, please see: https://thebarnpa.com.
Donate Gardner is a freelance writer and journalist who came to Gettysburg from Montgomery County, Maryland. A former linguist-turned-legal professional, Donate recently retired and is eager to support her new community in a variety of ways. She currently serves as the news communicator for the Adams County migrant outreach program, Pasa La Voz and supports various pro bono legal services to migrants in the area.
An immigrant born, raised, and educated in Western Europe, Donate uses her multi-lingual background to maintain connection to other cultures, both as a writer, historical researcher and advocate.
Donate is also an active musician, multi-instrumentalist and award-winning songwriter, enjoying the rich music and arts community in Gettysburg, and supporting traveling musicians coming through the area. Donate can be reached at: dvbgardner@gmail.com.