Mike’s Music and Dance Barn can now host primitive tent camping events after receiving approval for a private recreational development from the Brown County Board of Zoning Appeals last month.
The venue, which is on State Road 46 West near Schooner Valley Stables, was seeking BZA approval to host around 70 primitive tents for music events throughout the year. Mike’s Dance Barn has previously hosted similar events, including a series Grateful Dead cover band sets one weekend in August 2019.
“I planned on making a family campground for anybody to come and stay, but mainly those coming to events or shows,” said Mike Robertson, the petitioner and property owner.
While some meeting attendees, including Robertson and his employees, initially spoke in favor of the petition, some Nashville residents who live adjacent to the property voiced concerns.
One neighbor to the Robertson property, Connie Ress, said the dance barn didn’t exist when she moved in and that these events bring people that wander into her yard, using the creek bed on her property to urinate and bathe.
“Yes, this is happening in broad daylight,” she said. “It may sound funny, but it is not funny when you have to deal with it. We just want respect.”
Ress also voiced concerns that these events with large amounts of people would increase crime in the area. She additionally had concerns about camper safety, saying people could wander into the street and other properties. She requested that a six-foot chain link fence be required around the property.
“Schooner Valley homeowners already put up with so much with the music barn,” she said. “We advertise Brown County being peaceful. Please keep it that way.”
Another neighbor of the dance barn, Ress’ brother Jim Sturgeon, further expressed concern about late night parties causing more noise would happen at the venue if the request was approved.
“I’ve been to these events, and some of those people that come to those events, they come to party,” he said. “And they’re up all night. I had trouble sleeping. It was that bad.”
Sturgeon said that he also worried about theft. Sturgeon said he has made trails on his property that aren’t far from the dance barn and that he fears of wanderers.
“I’m afraid that people will come off the corner of (Robertson’s) property and find them trails and start telling everybody about them,” he said.
Jason McClaren of Bloomington has worked with Robertson to produce several events at the dance barn in the past and addressed some of the comments during the meeting.
He said that the venue actually has a video surveillance system equipped with 16 cameras that can be used to monitor activity during events and that organizers could install fencing along the back of the property as well as no trespassing signs on neighbors’ property.
McClaren also told board members that whenever a problem such as noise or camper recklessness arises, they first ask the campers to stop. If disruptions continue, McClaren said they shut the barn down.
“It’s just how we roll,” he said. “We are not trying to start havoc is what we would say. The goal here is to try and get something done and make it happen.”
Charles Taylor, another employee of the dance barn, said that in order to minimize noise for the adjacent properties, the event’s sober camping areas can be placed closer to neighbors so that families who aren’t as loud will be nearby.
These proposed modifications were not enough for some attendees, including Shipley Hollow Road resident Linda McCulley. Board members had previously received an 18-page letter from McCulley detailing her concerns that campers would have access to the running water and restrooms within the dance barn, thus making it no longer fit the definition of primitive.
“Why else would campers want to spend an entire weekend cramped in a hayfield on State Road 46 with little shade and no amenities,” she said.
McCulley told board members that she believed illegal festivals have already taken place on the property. She felt that by seeking primitive campground status, Robertson was attempting to bypass certain county ordinances that prevent campgrounds from starting in residential areas.
“This could injure Shipley Hollow residential rights permanently,” McCulley said. “This request will not protect the character and stability of this residential area.”
After the public hearing portion of the meeting, board members shared some sanitation and safety concerns with Robertson, who assured them that his team takes the proper steps to ensure a clean, safe environment for their events.
Robertson also said that any additional requirements the board places will be met as well.
“Whatever it is, we’ll do it,” he said.
Eventually, the board voted to approve Robertson for a private recreational development, which is defined as “a provision for recreation-related products or services for private enterprise for a fee, with the long-term intent of being profitable” by the Brown County BZA. However, the approval is pending a list of conditions that must be met by Robertson.
The conditions, which were developed by the board members after hearing public comments, include limiting primitive camping events to four times a year and limiting days of operation to Friday through Sunday. To address camper safety concerns, fencing will be installed during events to create a barrier between the tent area and State Road 46.
While discussing conditions with the board, McClaren said that he and the organizers’ main priority during these events is to maintain a positive, safe and clean environment.
“I take this stuff very seriously,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for years and it is my job to ensure safety and comfort.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”BZA Conditions for Mike’s Dance Barn” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
- All setback requirements for neighboring properties will be met
- The mature evergreen buffer existing to the east will remain
- Private Recreational Development access from Shipley Hollow Road will only be allowed in emergency situations
- Days of operation will be limited to Friday through Sunday
- The primitive camping events are limited to four times per year
- No amplified music is allowed outside of the soundproof commercial building
- Fencing will be set up to create a barrier between the tent area and State Road 46 West during events
