Proposed Youth Camp
Our board members continue to review land use applications with a focus on appropriate uses within Polk County’s farm and forest zones. During 2023 and 2024, an application for a Youth Camp in a forested region near Gold Creek came to our attention. The neighboring property owners struggled to get county and state agencies to stop unlawful activity that was being pursued without appropriate permits.
The proposed Sulamita Recreation Center site plan.
Friends of Polk County submitted written comments in opposition to the proposed youth camp noting the following deficiencies:
the property was clear-cut and not successfully replanted so does not qualify as a “forested setting”
inadequate forest vegetation around perimeter to provide a buffer for visual and audible impacts on neighboring properties
inadequate analysis for a septic system suitable for 350 camp participants
no evidence of adequate water availability for 350 camp participants
missing permits for floodplain development
missing management plan for limiting conflicts with wildlife (elk habitat)
Above, a composite image of the zoning map and the topo map showing the proposed site within the timber conservation zone and the exclusive farm use zone.
A public hearing was scheduled for April 8, 2025 but cancelled. The applicant still needs a parallel permit for development within a floodplain before a public hearing on the conditional use permit can be scheduled. We expect to see this application resubmitted and we will submit additional testimony when the staff report is ready and the public hearing is scheduled.
The complete file for the 2023 application is available on the Polk County website:
