Penn Forest: Campground lacks permit

Penn Forest Township officials say a controversial campground should not be operating at this time because it lacks a zoning permit and an approved fire protection plan.

However residents of private communities near Bear Creek say they’ve encountered campers who are headed to Scott Dietrich’s property.

At Monday’s regular meeting of the Penn Forest Township supervisors, residents continued to voice opposition to Dietrich’s use of his property on Acacia Drive in the township. They also voiced opposition to the township zoning hearing board, who approved a special exception allowing Dietrich to operate a campground in a residential zone.

“The zoning should be reprimanded for making a decision that changed our way of life, and what we’re going through now,” said township resident Judith Salovay.

As of Monday night, Dietrich’s advertisements on Tentrr.com were still active under the names “A creek runs through it” and “Retreat on Bear Creek.” The listing for “A creek runs through it” says it is still available most weeknights throughout the summer.

Last month, the township zoning hearing board granted a special exception to allow Dietrich to use his property, which is located in the R-1 residential district, for up to eight campsites.

At last month’s supervisor’s meeting, residents protested the decision to the supervisors, saying the only access to Dietrich’s property is through private communities with roads not maintained by the township. They also objected to the “camp loo” described on a listing for the site, which requires campers to dispose of their own bags of human waste.

On Monday, residents said that Dietrich is ignoring conditions of the zoning hearing board’s decision. Dietrich was not present at the meeting.

Salovay said Dietrich hasn’t submitted a fire protection plan to the township. The zoning board’s decision required a fire prevention plan approved by the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources and Penn Forest Township’s fire chief.

“He’s in operation and he’s not supposed to be,” she said.

Salovay said she’s upset that the township isn’t monitoring Dietrich’s compliance with state law and local regulations. She said he also lacks a permit from the state to operate a campground.

She said she has encountered campers driving around her private community looking for directions. She added that the buzzing of generators has become a nuisance.

“Something has to be done to monitor the decibels on that, because it’s highly annoying. Imagine sitting on your back porch hearing the ‘bzzz,’ and sound travels. It comes up the mountain. Right to my house,” she said.

Frank Green, president of the homeowners’ association in one of the private communities, Marty Axman, said the lack of a fire protection plan should be a real concern. Green said Dietrich has a right to use his property as he wishes, but he is concerned about the fire danger and cars driving through private communities.

“My main concern is if a fire should start because of one of these campers. I live in Marty Axman and I don’t want the whole area to go up in smoke,” Green said.

Solicitor Thomas Nanovic responded to the residents by saying Dietrich must comply with all applicable local ordinances and state laws.

“He shouldn’t be operating until he has a zoning permit. And there were conditions that the zoning hearing board set,” he said. Nanovic said the township zoning officer should contact Dietrich to inform him that he can’t operate his campsites without a zoning permit. Township secretary Maria Vitale said the zoning officer contacted Dietrich via email Monday morning.