A 265-lot subdivision proposed near Smiths Grove was expected to bring local residents fearing growth out to Thursday’s City-County Planning Commission meeting, but a short-notice postponement from applicant Lautieri Enterprises, LLC citing “family illness” pushed those remarks back to July.

However, Thursday’s meeting still saw its share of concerned residents protesting an RV park and campground proposed on a 15-acre lot on Plum Springs Road across the river from Beech Bend Amusement Park.

Commissioners narrowly approved local developer Montie Brown’s request for a future land use map amendment in a 5-4 vote, paving early steps for a rezoning and eventual development on the vacant lot.

The application from Brown stated the 33-RV site and five-cabin development, including an event space and walking trails, makes good use of the parcel’s steep drop-offs and a sizable floodplain that could hinder other kinds of developments.

“The planned use of a campground, RV park and event center will provide another lodging option for visitors to Warren County and would be an advantageous use of this unique property along the floodplain and its topography,” the application stated.

The commission staff report ultimately recommended the amendment’s approval pending public comments, finding the plan compatible with the area and conducive with zoning requirements.

Several nearby neighbors disagreed, six taking to the podium during public comment.

Resident Rusty Vertrees lives across Plum Springs Road from the proposed development and said he has lived in the area for 22 years.

He and others cited concerns surrounding the development’s compatibility with nearby residential zoning and worried that the developer’s self-enforced “quiet hours” would not stop park residents from disturbing neighbors.

“As far as a quiet hour, Beech Bend has a quiet hour – come out there at 12 o’clock during the Harley drags,” Vertrees told commissioners.

Resident Curtis Butler said he spent “many nights on this property growing up” and it is a “gorgeous” property that abuts Barren River. It includes a spring that brings up water from Glasgow and flows into the river.

“We want to keep it that way. There is wonderful fishing there, too, we want to keep that that way, too,” Butler said. “My biggest thing though, guys, if this was across the street from you, would you allow this to come in?”

Other residents spoke of traffic concerns with RVs traveling down Plum Springs Road and worried the park would attract long-term low-income or homeless residents despite its 20-day maximum stay.

Brown’s attorney, Chris Davenport, did not immediately respond to the Daily News but spoke after the meeting’s public comment portion to address concerns from residents.

He said the development is compatible with the area, which he said is unique due to the industrial zone around nearby Commerce Street. An entrance and exit, primarily for employees, will connect the park’s roadways to that street.

Davenport said many residents may not realize how close their residence is to the zone and added the proposed development would create a steady transition from one end of the spectrum to the other.

“The fact of the matter is, as I said early on, this site is somewhat unique in that we have industrial and then we have residential, and in large part we have a big vacant tract here,” Davenport said. “As this board has heard me say before, zoning makes the most sense when uses flow from one intensity to the other – industrial, commercial, residential.

“Although I know the neighbors don’t feel that way, that’s in large part what would happen with this FLUM request if it’s granted. In my opinion, it would make great use of this acreage, give it great utility given the challenges to topography, the river, those things that will actually accentuate a campground.”

Also on Thursday, Commissioners approved a request from the Warren County Board of Education to rezone 30.05 acres on Hedge Street just outside Smiths Grove from agricultural to public zoning.

The full CCPC board will meet next on July 18.