RV ‘resort’ is approved for Rice Springs in Floyd County

An 81- space recreational vehicle park touted as a tourism boon is expected to open in the Rice Springs community by the summer of 2018, after the Floyd County Commission approved on Tuesday a special use permit for the property.

“We’re going to work quickly,” owner Bill Gore said. “We had been hoping to get started on this a lot sooner.”

State tourism and travel industry studies estimate the economic impact of his Rice Springs RV Resort at $1.5 million a year, according to Lisa Smith, director of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Gore said the first step for the undeveloped 21 acres is to build the entrance road, which will be off Alabama Highway, just west of Barker Road. The Georgia Department of Transportation must approve the plans, which will include acceleration and deceleration lanes.

He hopes to move his RV of Rome service shop from Shorter Avenue to the new site within six months, he said, and the rest of the development will likely take about a year.

Dozens of Barker Road and Rice Springs residents opposed the project throughout a series of hearings that started in November.

During the process, the County Commission adopted stricter rules governing the operation of RV parks and Gore made several adjustments to his site plans.

The board also is requiring an on-site caretaker, and Gore said he and his family intend to live there.

However, Barker Road spokeswoman Kelli Gonzales pointed out Tuesday that the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission had twice recommended denial — and their concerns about increased noise, crime and traffic hazards remain. “This is our neighborhood,” she said. County Commissioner Scotty Hancock initially moved to deny the permit, based on the planning commission’s recommendation. However, only he and Commissioner Larry Maxey voted for the denial.

Then Hancock sided with the majority of the board in the following 4-1 vote to approve the permit. Maxey remained opposed.