Council clears path for RV parks in city
City officials reviewed six other municipalities’ laws to come up with wording.
The Smithville City Council amended its code of ordinance to allow for the creation of a recreational vehicle park in the city.
Council members made the change at their May 16 council meeting to include a section regulating RV parks after being approached by a developer who wants to establish one in the city limits.
City Manager Robert Tamble said that he, along with the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Attorney Charlie Crossfield, reviewed ordinances of six other municipalities before coming up with Smithville’s ordinance wording.
The ordinance allows for 3- to 7-acre lots with a 15-lot density per acre. Inside lots would need to be “pull-through” and outside lots can be designed to be back-in spaces, according to the ordinance.
Roads would need to be built in the park by the developer that allow access for emergency vehicles. An 8-foot-tall opaque fence will also have to be built to “buffer” the park from view, according to the ordinance.
RV park requirements include an office, 24-hour access to an emergency phone, bathroom and shower facilities, a laundry facility and a recreational area, all well-lit.
Each plan will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council before approval. The developer will need to pay a review fee of $350 and an annual fee to be licensed for the development, which is set at $150.
Because the developer is responsible for any improvements on the property, the city would only need to run water, sewer and electric lines to the property. The city would also be getting revenue from use of water and electric from the development, if possible.
If the park is not accessible for hookup to city services, then the water, sewer and electric services must be approved by the city along with other state permits.
Tamble said RV parks count toward rentals and “heads in beds,” which would allow the city to use hotel occupancy tax dollars for any needed improvements.