By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
A proposed hospitality academy, set to be placed on the former Inspiration Ministries retreat property in Walworth Township, was denied a conditional use permit after three months worth of discussion May 19.
At the March meeting, the Walworth County Zoning Agency tabled a decision until after the elections, though a public hearing was held. The CZA tabled the item again in April.
This time, the discussion was short and to the point. While gathered information showed that recreational camps in the area did not draw much additional police presence and that neighbors were anywhere from 600 to 1,000 feet from the retreat area, CZA citizen member Jim Van Dresser moved to deny the application, saying that a hospitality academy did not fit the definition of a recreational camp, and that the proposed use was in violation of the zoning ordinances.
“I believe we’d be setting a precedent if we approve this,” Van Dresser explained. “The proposed use is not consistent with the intent of the ordinance.”
The Town of Walworth had previously denied the conditional use permit, though it had given a long list of conditions to be met to the CZA.
The motion to deny the permit passed, with one no vote from Joanne Laufenberg.
