An Upper Bucks Christian camp has significantly scaled back a plan to expand with amenities like a splash park, firearm range and 100-space parking lots, bringing relief to neighbors who were fighting the plan in court.
Haycock Camping Ministries, located on a 184-acre tract off School Road in Springfield Township, announced the change of plans last week.
It now hopes to add some pieces of the plan individually over the next 30-50 years. Other elements have been revised because of an upgraded designation for Haycock Creek, which runs through part of the property.
“Haycock has reevaluated its long-term approach,” Executive Director Dave Stiansen said in a news release.
When the camp’s expansion plan was revealed last year, it generated strong opposition from neighboring property owners who said the camp had already become a source of noise, traffic and odors, and that its leaders were unwilling to compromise or resolve the complaints.
A petition opposing the camp’s plans gathered more than 150 signatures, and a group called Concerned Neighbors led a legal battle against the expansion.
The group spent about $100,000, hiring attorney Andrew Griffin to lead its efforts.
“He fought tirelessly for us and made every cent we paid him count because, as he said, he believed in our cause,” group spokesperson Carla Sessions said. “We would not have succeeded without his help.’’
With the change in plan, Haycock Camping Ministries also won’t go to court to appeal any changes imposed on its original master plan, Stiansen said.
When the master plan was presented to township officials last year, it included:
construction of two homes for staff and a pond in one to five years;
a gym, bathrooms, 60-car parking lot, another staff house, pavilion, gazebo, canoe and kayak storage, and nine lean-tos in three to 10 years;
a kitchen; sleeping area in the gym; playground; another parking lot; and archery, slingshot and axe-throwing range in seven to 15 years;
a basketball court, two maintenance barns, bath house, store, snack stand, nurse’s office, another pavilion, swimming pool and splash park, paintball fields, rifle and shotgun range, and possibly two more homes for staff in 10-20 years;
an office; meeting rooms; 25-car parking lot; horse corral, stable and barn; picnic area; volleyball court; and dining hall expansion in 15-20 years;
and a 40 car-parking lot, nurse’s station, maintenance building, lodge, meeting room, recreational vehicle parking sites, worship pavilion and additional homes for staff in 25-30 years.
The township this year issued the camp a permit for its plan but came with 35 conditions.
“What we’re doing now is regrouping and there are a lot of unknowns,’’ Stiansen said by phone Friday.
He said one project, a pavilion, could be considered for construction in the coming year.
One of the big factors in the change was the upgraded designation of Haycock Creek, which went from “trout-stocked stream” to “high-quality trout stocking stream.” That “resulted in expanded buffer requirements across parts of the property,” Stiansen said in a news release.
The new buffer requirements mean many areas the master plan showed for building can no longer be used.
Despite that, “there is still a lot of buildable land where we could relocate to,” Stiansen said.
“Haycock Camping Ministries remains firmly committed to responsible development and the preservation of its mission and its natural resources … as it continues to pursue the mission that has guided its operation for the past 60 years — growing boys into Godly men through transformational outdoor adventures,’’ the release said.
Sessions said the neighbors’ opposition shed light on how much damage such a vast development would do to the area and appears to have had an impact on the camp’s decision.
She said the group is planning a yard sale Oct. 25 at her home across from the camp, 1435 Maple Ave., to help raise money for legal fees.
“We neighbors will remain vigilant to ensure Haycock Camp truly pursues responsible development as they claim in their news release,” she said. “We’ll also continue to support our community in every way, no matter the effort or cost. Because that’s what neighbors do.”
Charles Malinchak is a freelance writer.
