For the past 18 years, a Clark couple has run a church camp for youth from central Minnesota. Last year, however, the camp drew a complaint from a neighbor, and Park County officials determined landowners Scott and Gretchen Hutton needed a special use permit (SUP).

Since August, the Huttons have been talking with neighbors and the county to make the operation official. That included two planning and zoning meetings, which ended with the board recommending approval of the SUP with conditions.

County commissioners were set to make a decision on Tuesday, but after taking public comments, commissioners decided to continue the hearing to the afternoon of May 2.

The issue, commissioners Lee Livingston and Lloyd Thiel specifically said, is whether to let the camp use the subdivision’s common land and horse trails, as some neighbors in the Line Creek subdivision don’t approve of the use.

“If you would state in your application to limit activities to your property, OK,” Livingston said, adding, “utilization of common ground for this activity is the sticking point.”

Background

In staff reports, planner Kim Dillivan said the long-running summer youth camps on Louis Lamour Lane were brought to staff’s attention by a neighbor, who shared several concerns. They included compliance with covenants, risk of wildfires, nuisances, unpermitted structures and water and septic issues. Recent changes to/expansion of the camp triggered the report, Dillivan said, and planning staff determined the use hadn’t been permitted by the county. He said staff have had numerous conversations with the applicants about bringing the property into compliance with county regulations.

The Huttons said they run the summer camps purely as a volunteer effort to give back, assisting the Central Minnesota Youth for Christ. They take place over a span of six weeks: three week-long camps with a week of prep work preceding each.

According to the Huttons, roughly 16 to 24 youth attend each session. Mentors, staff, activity specialists and volunteers bring the total number of individuals hosted to 38-52 per session.

The Huttons own a number of lots in the area, with most of the camp taking place on a 16.8 acre lot, with the ranch manager and horse stables on a 4.81 acre lot and other vacant lots owned by the Huttons serving as some of the land for trail rides. 

Shelters consist of tipis, wall tents and cabins. Meals are provided and served in a barn-like structure on the property. Activity specialists plan and coordinate off-site adventures such as hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, trail riding and local service projects. The applicants maintain a residence on a 4.59 acre lot and provide their personal horses for trail rides and for introductory horsemanship training and grooming. Most of the equine activities occur in small areas that are adjacent to the camp structures. More experienced riders will participate in trail rides that occur on neighboring parcels and in the common area.

Gretchen Hutton said the permitting process has “been a journey of highs and lows.” The highs, she said, have included receiving support from those affiliated with the Minnesota church and many local residents.

Of the more than 20 letter and email comments received by the county, Dillivan said it’s been roughly split between those in favor and those opposed to the camp.

Issues

At Tuesday’s public hearing, most neighbors and other commenters expressed support for the camp, while a couple shared objections.

James Hays, who said he’s lived on Line Creek since 2016, was fully in support.

“Even though I can see their property, I didn’t even know about their operation until this winter,” he said. “I didn’t even know about these covenants, they weren’t given to me when I closed. I support them and I’d like to see them continue.”

Neighbor Connie King said she appreciates her neighbors and honors the Huttons for what they do, but she had a number of concerns with them continuing the camp.

“My concerns I have brought forward show a violation of the covenants,” she said, “and how I have been treated when I speak about these violations of the covenants with Ms. Hutton.”

King mentioned concerns about the group cutting trails above Line Creek, which she and neighbors worry could affect water rights and harm the riparian habitat. She also shared concerns about liability issues in regards to the common area and impacts to elk because of the camp activity in an elk migration corridor.

Another neighbor objected to the last point by saying if the Huttons sold their land and it was subdivided and became houses, it would have much greater impact on elk.

Moving forward

After everyone had made comments, Commissioner Livingston asked the Huttons whether they would be OK running the camp without using the common neighborhood land.

Gretchen Hutton said they could still run the camp by using neighboring land. However, she questioned why they would have to do so when other property owners in the neighborhood are running short-term rentals and specifically advertising the benefit of the common land that visitors can use. She also noted a trail that avoided the common land would avoid the shade of the trees and be less aesthetically pleasing for the campers.

The day before the meeting, Scott Hutton said the Minnesota ministry decided on a plan to address the liability concerns with campers being in the common area by amending the camp’s insurance coverage to include the trails on the common land.

He also reiterated this was a volunteer effort for him and his wife. Fees charged to the camper go to travel expenses and activities that have added costs, Scott Hutton said, while the couple provides lodging, food and other benefits out of their own pocket.

“This is a gift from us,” he said.