Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Durham Town Board has voted to allow all existing campsites at the Blackthorne resort to stay open for the time being. The owners of the East Durham resort submitted in late 2020, a site plan application for the addition of 30 campsites to the Subside Road RV Park. However, the sites are already in use. Neighbors and the general pubic are of two minds about the plan — some argue the expansion would have a negative environmental impact, while others are grateful for the economic impact Blackthorne guests have on the area. The town board Tue., May 5, unanimously approved an order on consent. “This agreement says that the applicant is going to withdraw their application, which they have,” said town attorney Tal Rappleyea. “And they are going back to the drawing table and providing us with an overall copy, survey and site plan of all of the sites that are currently on the location, as well as the 30 that were asked for, and others that might be coming down the pike.” Attorney Jonathan E. Cohen, who represents Anais Merle and Michael Pezcek, of 107 Sunside Road, blew the whistle on the unapproved camping spots In a February 2 letter to the board. In that letter, Cohen alleged, “It is believed that the New York State Department of Health has pressured the applicant over the years to come into compliance with applicable sanitary laws, and that this application is the result.” Blackthorne now has until August 1 to submit the required documentation to the town, Rappleyea said. If Blackthorne fails to comply with the order, or submit a new plan by August 1, Town Supervisor Shawn Marriott said the town board will likely review and rescind the agreement. Read the full story at porcupine soup [dot] com.