Zoning board grants exception to campground
The Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board granted a special exception Wednesday for a family-owned campground facility in Dunbar Township to expand its operation. The owners of River’s Edge Family Campgrounds Inc. in Adelaide were seeking a special exception for a commercial recreation facility for campgrounds and related uses for property zoned A-1, agricultural rural.
Among the planned improvements are construction of a community building/game room and guard shed, construction of storage sheds with lockers, setting up additional RV sites, additional cabins, relocation of pavilions, construction of two additional comfort stations (restrooms/shower facilities), installation of an environmental culture pavilion and two 500-car parking lots.
About a dozen people attended the hearing, all in support of the request. The closest neighbors to the site, Richard and Laura Lee Tomasko, testified that the owners have been “A-1 neighbors” since taking over the site several years ago. The campground is located in close proximity to the Youghiogheny River and a bicycle/hiking trail intersects it.
“It’s like a blessing from heaven,” Richard Tomasko said of the facility. He said an expansion of the facility would be an asset to the area.
“In the past, there were people with no concern for the community and neighbors, but Gene Gallo and his mom and fad are different.”
The Gallos have owned the campground for nearly five years. Laura Lee Tomasko said she and her husband of 39 years had problems before the current owners took over but “the Gallos have done everything in their power to make things right.”
Attorney Richard Bower and one of the owners, Eugene A. Gallo Jr. of Connellsville, provided the majority of the testimony during the 90-minute hearing. Numerous pictures, site plans and utility letters were submitted as evidence.
Bower said an existing A-frame will be modified into a bed-and- breakfast and other additions include a service and sales lot, a camper sales office and an expanded restaurant.
Bower said, in addition to building the additional campground-related sites, plans are to open entertainment festivals held each summer for the campers to the public. Gallo estimated that the campgrounds could handle 3,500 people on a weekend and portable toilets could be brought in, as needed. Also, during festival weekends, which would include music, crafts, food and seminars, Gallo said security guards are brought in to work and the police, fire and ambulance personnel are notified.
The site, which includes about 55 acres, was in disrepair but has been cleaned up, Bower said. Gallo said due to the popularity of the campground, he and his parents have realized a need to grow. He said he would like to restore the existing camping sites and bring the site up to the national standard of RV parks and do it in a way to be friendly to the neighbors.
“We want ours to be one of the premiere parks,” he said.
A history buff, Gallo said an added feature of the campground is an entrance to an old slope mine, coke ovens and an old factory. He said H.C. Frick once owned the property and the existing sites can “tell the whole story of coal and coke in the area.” Also, Gallo said, plans include protecting approximately six acres of wetlands.
Gallo said there are existing buffer zones with foliage and a cliff face on various sides. He said city sewage is planned for the area in early 2003. The rules and regulations of the campground call for visitors out by 10 p.m. and quiet time from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Gallo said when bands play, they offer acoustic music after 10 p.m. All vehicles must be registered and disruptive campers are asked to leave.
Gallo and Bower said the traffic flow issue has been addressed and Gallo said a contingency plan exists for times with high traffic flow.
The motion for a special exception was approved unanimously, with ZHB members Ricardo Cicconi and Charles Cieszynski voting yes.
In other action, the ZHB also unanimously approved two separate requests for special exceptions to allow automotive maintenance and repair garages to open. Both requests involve properties zoned B-1, general business.
Christopher O’Neil of Point Marion was granted approval to open a repair shop in a building on Penn Street in Point Marion. The building, owned by Point Marion News Inc., is currently used as a state store/insurance office, with the lower level reserved for storage. O’Neil will occupy the current storage area and utilize a back entrance.
O’Neil said he will only operate inside the garage and will have a filtration system installed. He said he plans to perform mostly mechanical work, with some bodywork, as well. The hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Homer Cramer of Smock was granted approval to open a repair shop in a garage on property in Menallen Township near his home. He said he will perform maintenance and minor bodywork.
Cramer said he owns nearly two acres and the nearest neighbor is his son.
He said all work will be completed inside the garage. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.