Kenai commission rejects family campground proposal

The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-1 to reject a proposal for a five-site family campground on Tundra Rose Lane. The applicants, Nicole and David Smith, sought to create a seasonal noncommercial recreational vehicle and tent park for relatives on a 1.16-acre property.

City staff and neighbors opposed the plan, arguing it was inconsistent with the rural residential zoning district and the city’s comprehensive plan. Planning Director Kevin Buettner noted that under city regulations, two or more occupied RVs or three or more tents constitute a campground, regardless of whether the users are family or if fees are charged. Concerns regarding increased traffic were also a primary factor in the denial.