Camp Napowan was recently sold to Getaway Homes, and on Dec. 14th, Nico Turic, Senior Real Estate Manager of Getaway Homes gave a presentation to the Town of Mt. Morris Board including a request to rezone the East portion of the property from agriculture to parks and recreation (OP). In order to get the property rezoned they must get approved from Waushara County Zoning to change the east property to OP. Over 30 concerned residents attended the meeting and voiced concerns about the proposed project.
The proposal includes placement of 40 modern camping units set in nature in a wooded setting on the 280 acres on the east side of 24th Avenue in the Town of Mt. Morris. Turic said the units are 150 sq. ft., on wheels and come with showers, toilets, small kitchen facilities, and sleeping arrangements. The plan is to leave the property on the west side of 24th as undeveloped and limit use to guests who will not have boating or swimming privileges but may sit in provided chairs and enjoy the view of the lakes and use the fire pits available.
This would be a year-round campground, the units are limited to two guests in the single bedroom and four guests in two-bedroom cabins. Ten of the proposed cabins will be two bedroom and 30 will be one bedroom. They will be using existing water and septic facilities and converting them to adapt to their cabins. Typical cost for the rentals will be $100-$200 per night, and they will offer rentals by the night or week.
Plans are also to create an entrance on 24th Ave. so vehicle traffic will be limited. To convert the property, boy scout cabins and structures will be removed and donated to interested community members or organizations for removal.
Concerned citizens asked questions on the project following the presentation. Robert Jackson asked why he hadn’t received notice of this purchase and zone change. Toric said that notices were sent out by certified mail to all adjoining property owners and those near this property. Jackson said they use their property for hunting and Torek said the company has other properties next to hunting properties and they have had no problems.
Gary Frank asked if there would be any retail sales on the site and Turic said that each cabin would have an honor bar where snacks and beverages could be purchased, but no other sales would be made.
Ann Leinweber asked what would be done to stop their guests from bringing in boats by the public boat landing. Turic said that no one will be allowed to launch or park their boats on the Getaway property, but they have no right to stop anyone from using the public boat launches available on the lakes.
John Norberg asked if the plans were for luxury camping facilities because he had heard of a different Getaway campground that had been criticized for cleanliness issues. Turic said they did have issues with one of the older camps out east that is now closed while undergoing an upgrade.
Mt. Morris Town Chairman, Dan Nowak, said the intentions of the town board is to ask the town’s land use committee to review the zone change request at it’s Dec. 21st meeting and to report their recommendations to the town board at the January 2022 monthly meeting.
Todd Wahler, Waushara County Zoning/Land Conser-vation Director, said the Getaway presentation was for information only. The process is done in three stages, the first would proceed only after the town board considered the zone change request. It is the town’s right to have this change considered by their Land Use Committee because this would be a change in use from the original land use plan.
The county’s zoning committee will not start their review process until the town board gives it’s support or states it’s concerns. Wahler believes if the town approves to go ahead with the proposed zone change it will be on the February Zoning Committee meeting agenda for the county as the town board will first give their recommendation on Jan. 11th.
The Argus will continue to follow the recommendation at the January meeting from the Town of Mt. Morris Board.
