The Mason Zoning Board denied an application for a rehearing on a proposed “glamping” campground behind Marty’s Driving Range on Monday.

The original application, submitted by Nicole Ruggiero, proposed a 10-site campground, with raised wooden platforms and walled tents with a bed and accommodations, which Ruggiero characterized as being more like a motel room than a campsite. While she anticipated some of the sites would be used by visitors attending concerts at Marty’s Driving Range, she also expected the business to “stand on its own” and be used by tourist visitors in the region.

While neighbors expressed concerns about a variety of issues, including noise, lighting, sanitation and access for emergency personnel, the Zoning Board did not delve into those issues in its deliberations, instead finding that temporary camping sites didn’t fit what is allowed in the district by special exception.

The General Residence, Agriculture and Forestry District, where the campground would have been located, allows uses such as inns, tourist homes and lodging houses by special exception, among other uses, but not specifically campgrounds.

Ruggiero appealed the decision, stating in her application for a rehearing that she had originally planned to apply for the inn/tourism lodging special exception, and was steered toward a “campground” special exception, which doesn’t actually exist in the Mason ordinance.

During the initial review of the proposal, the board discussed whether the sites would fit under tourist homes or lodging houses, with Chair Bob Young stating that he believed the intent to be more-permanent structures than the campsites.

In her response to why she believed the decision to be in error, Ruggiero said the board had ruled on other cases similar to hers. Specifically, she referred to an approval of an application by Hector Bermudez, who is a current member of the ZBA, for short-term rental camping accommodations for a tent yurt or tipi in the Village Residential District, for up to six lodging units.

“The precedent has been set; Hector’s yurt is a semi-permanent structure used for rental purposes via special exception of inn/tourism lodging; I should be allotted up to six structures per parcel,” Ruggiero argued in her application for rehearing.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.