After a five hour hearing last Thursday on an application for a 200 unit campground and zipline development in the town of Lincoln, the Vilas County Zoning Committee voted 5-0 to approve the conditional use permit (CUP) with limited conditions.
Jason and Nicole Bach of Eagle River proposed the development on 32 acres on Highway 17 just south of Highway 70 with 1328 feet on Mud Creek. The property is zoned General Purpose in which campgrounds are allowed but need a CUP for approval.
Nicole Bach testified the “development will be in three phases with some sites along with septic, well, shower and laundry building in phase one followed by more sites in phase two and the zipline/aerial tracking system in the last phase.”
Public testimony from the 45 persons present were one in favor and 11 opposed with 92 letters in opposition and 75 in support. Most opposing comments were about noise, road impacts, trespass, claims of lowering property values, blastomycosis, and impacts on the natural wild rice beds of Mud Creek. In its approval, the Zoning Committee determined the proposal met or would meet all county ordinance requirements and would have to meet all DNR standards, and any federal standards that may apply.
They set four conditions as part of their approval; both exit and entrance on Skinner Road, egress onto Highway 17 if DOT approves, all lighting facing downward, and signs directing traffic routes.
