KENT—The Planning and Zoning Commission conferred with Club Getaway owner David Schreiber Dec. 14 in an attempt to establish baseline activities at the camp.
The information will be used in determining additional uses of the property in the future.
Land Use Official Tai Kern said that the intention of a new regulation would be to take “the baseline activities at the camp and say, ‘This is what we have been doing all along.’ Anything new would need a special permit and, after a while, would be rolled into the baseline.”
Chairman Wes Wyrick said it is the commission’s intention to “memorialize the uses into a new regulation.”
New PZC member Sarah Chase asked what implications the regulation might have for other non-conforming uses.
“We’re always concerned about unintended consequences,” said Wyrick.
Schreiber was advised to ask for a pre-application meeting with the PZC so it can have an open discussion about what would be included.
Member Karen Casey said she found the baseline list of uses “very thorough,” but questioned what concerts would be held there, asking if they would require special permits.
Schreiber said that music is a key component of camp activities and takes place every weekend.
“The camp has had music dating back to 1976,” he said.
He explained that only one real concert has been held there and that was during 2020 when an outdoor event was held.
“We will never do that again and we will never let off commercial fireworks again,” he promised, but added, “It is hard to consider what a concert is because music is always part of Club Getaway.”
“We have music on the patio, and music after dinner—we’ve always have done that,’ he said. “What is the threshold of a concert? We do retro/rewind music with cover bands for the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.”
The commission asked about alcohol at the programs.
Schreiber said the camp has a liquor license and has a café with a patio bar.
Chase reported that the zoning regulations prohibit alcohol sales, but it was determined that the activity, which dates back 48 years, is grandfathered.
Schreiber conceded he has had complaints about noise, but said he cooperates with neighbors.
“If they text and say it is too loud, we turn it down. Sometimes it doesn’t sound loud where we are, but it might sound loud where the neighbors are,” he said.
“We have great communication with our neighbors about this, but there have been some challenges in the past,” he said.
Outside music is cut off at 11 p.m. On weekends, when a band is playing under a tent or in the boathouse, music might continue until midnight.
“The Boathouse is soundproofed to the best of my ability,” Schreiber said.
Preparation for opening the camp begins in March and picks up pace prior to the official opening in early May. The season ends in October.
The commission voted to accept the baseline activities as described.
