A resident is again voicing concerns about a fishing camp that was temporarily shut down after the township issued a verbal cease-and-desist order for operating outside its approved limits.

Tom Lawler, of Mill Run Drive in Sawmill Estates, told the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors he wants to be sure zoning violations at Fazenda Fishing Camp are properly addressed.

Lawler said the camp’s advertised Fall Festival on Oct. 4-5 — which promoted RV, glamping and tent camping, cabin rentals, food service, DJ music and an outdoor concert — included “uses that appear to lack necessary approvals.”

A verbal cease-and-desist was issued at the time.

“While this verbal communication achieved peace in our development, it raises procedural questions,” Lawler said, noting that verbal orders are difficult to enforce.

He urged the board to rely on written actions for documentation and transparency.

Supervisor Fred Kemmerer Jr. said that if the camp fails to comply, the board will follow up and ensure future actions are in writing.

Lawler said the township file “currently lacks the necessary documentation to prove that the Fazenda operation is in compliance with the conditionally approved Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) or the zoning ordinance.”

He also raised concerns about “Right-to-Know deficiencies,” saying the township failed to meet the statutory response timeline for his request to review the file.

Although the file he was shown included the conditionally approved SALDO and three permit applications,

Lawler said it was “notably incomplete,” lacking records such as follow-up inspections, zoning correspondence, documentation showing SALDO conditions were met and responses to documented complaints.

“Fazenda continues to openly advertise for winter activities to the public in multiple languages across social media platforms,” he said.

“This continued activity, without clear documentation of compliance, raises significant concerns regarding the consistency of the township’s enforcement.”

Lawler asked when the township would require operations to cease until all permits, approvals and SALDO conditions are verified.

Supervisor Jason Frey said that responsibility lies with the zoning officer.

Township solicitor Nanovic suggested scheduling a meeting.

Zoning officer duties

Lawler also questioned whether the board reviews the zoning officer’s duties.

He said zoning officer Paul Jarrett is responsible for enforcing ordinances, maintaining documentation and conducting site inspections.

However, during an earlier meeting, Lawler said Jarrett told him he had no files, noted the RTK request as “denied” on his desk calendar, and spoke “in a manner that was unprofessional,” an interaction two residents and township secretaries reportedly witnessed. He thanked Kemmerer Jr. and Frey for intervening.

“If comprehensive records for a high-profile business like Fazenda Fishing Camp are not being maintained, the board should initiate a review to assess documentation standards across all enforcement activities in the township,” he said.

Lawler also asked what timeline the township would follow in issuing a formal written cease-and-desist order if Fazenda is found to be noncompliant.

Noise ordinance request

Lawler’s final concern was a proposal to create a noise ordinance committee. He asked the board to authorize a committee similar to the Recycling Board to draft a fair and enforceable noise ordinance, potentially bringing it to a public referendum for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Nanovic said he does not believe a noise ordinance would qualify for referendum. “There’s only certain things that can be on a referendum,” he said.

Kemmerer Jr. said he would not support creating a committee.

Background on the project

Crazy Trout LLC, owner and developer of the 100-acre property, has said it intends to create a private, members-only fishing camp.

Plans submitted to the township proposed limiting the camp to 50 members and employing five people. The project includes a lodge with kitchen facilities and a bar, 10 private cabins, and the use of existing buildings, ponds and outbuildings. A private well and on-lot septic system would serve the development, and parking would accommodate 50 guests and five employees.

Joe Craig, builder of the lodge, said there would be no public guests and that the camp would operate solely as a members-only club requiring an initiation fee.