For several months, concerned citizens in the Sandy Creek area of Lake Martin have come before the Tallapoosa County Commission voicing their opinions on the proposed Camp Margaritaville development that may be constructed just off Young’s Ferry Road in Dadeville.

Camp Margaritaville is a franchised upscale RV park that often includes other amenities such as restaurants and water parks.

Residents are in the fourth month of bringing the matter to the attention of the commission.

Matt Campbell opened the public comment portion of the most recent commission meeting asking if commissioners had read the opposition letters.

“On Sept. 25, we sent 74 letters to the commission in opposition to Camp Margaritaville,” he said. “Have you read the letters? You should be guided by those letters.”

Campbell suggested the commission hold a town hall meeting in a venue large enough to hold anybody who wanted to attend.

“We believe there are many people who do not want the development,” he said. “I’ve gotten no response from the commission. Not one commissioner has answered my questions.”

Although not on Tuesday’s agenda, Campbell requested two other residents be allowed to address the commission. Chairperson Emma Jean Thweatt granted permission and resident Shane West approached the podium.

“This project is so big and affects so many people,” West said. “It’s a huge project that will change the character of Lake Martin and Dadeville.”

West said the Young’s Ferry area was not designed for a development the size of Camp Margaritaville.

“If this is approved, it’s your fault,” he told the commission. “You’re ignoring the bad parts to get the tax revenue. You don’t want to be the five people that didn’t let the public participate in the decision.”

Harry DeNegre, of Hoover, spoke on behalf of his son who has a home on Lake Martin.

“Don’t let the appeal of a short-term gain affect your judgement,” DeNegre said. “You have been entrusted by the people of your county to be leaders.”

In previous commission meetings, both West and Campbell have spoken as well as Dave Maddox, president of Homeowners Association of Sandy Creek at Lake Martin, citing reasons the development would be bad for the area, with a focus mainly on overcrowding on the water, inadequate infrastructure and concerns about sewage.

District 2 commissioner Steve Robinson said the commission was aware of the risks of the development, but said the group cannot give residents information if it doesn’t have it.

“There are 41,000 people in this county and each of us represents 8,200 people,” Robinson said. “But at this juncture, we need more information as well.”

District 3 commissioner John McKelvey said in an interview following the meeting the commission created the Young’s Landing Improvement District board as a tool for the developers.

“The purpose of the board is an investors recruiting tool,” McKelvey said. “It’s a way for them to get better interest rates or a bond rating for their investment. If they don’t get financing, (Camp Margaritaville) won’t happen.”

The commission then appointed Jerry Hagood, Jameson Jonseof and Bobby Tom Crowe to the board.

“We added them to the improvement district board so they can provide information,” Robinson said. “The people with more knowledge about the next steps are (the board members).”

Campbell spoke up from the floor questioning why three people who are associated with the Camp Margaritaville development were named to the board.

“I understand you want more information, but this will give them a majority (on the board),” Campbell said. “This will be the end of the discussion because they will have all the power.”

McKelvey then offered Campbell a seat on the board so he could get information.

“Absolutely, I will serve on the board,” Campbell said. “I can make sure we’re not giving away the farm.”

McKelvey told Campbell, “We can’t give away a farm we don’t own.”

During a discussion that occurred during the commission’s executive session between West and Campbell, it was agreed West would take the position on the board. West relayed the information to McKelvey and Robinson after the commission meeting concluded.

“I’m not sure if they will do that at the next meeting or not,” West said. “We just want a voice in what happens.”

In McKelvey’s interview following the meeting, he discussed the role of the commission in developments.

“Because there is no zoning in the county, we have no control except in subdivision regulations which include roads and infrastructure,” he said.

Because the parcels of the proposed development are not annexed in any municipality, the land falls under the commission’s jurisdiction and cannot be zoned.

Before the developers can move forward, McKelvey said there are a few studies that would have to be conducted.

“There is a traffic study that’s paid for by investors,” he said.

The traffic study involves the roads leading into the development and whether the current road can handle the increased traffic.

Once the development moves forward, other governmental agencies will have to approve various stages, McKelvey said.

“Alabama Power Company issues permits for the boat docks,” he said. “They own all the property at 490 feet and below along the shoreline.”

Due to the size of the development, there is a possibility the size of the septic system will need approval from Alabama Department of Environmental Management, McKelvey said.

“Residential septic is approved by the health department,” he said. “Commercial has to be approved by ADEM.”

McKelvey said the bottom line is the commission doesn’t have all the information on the development and this early in the process it has done what it’s required to do by law.

“We’re not in a position to tell a property owner what to do,” he said. “As long as they have all the proper permits, they’ve done nothing wrong.”