The Clarkdale Town Council gave its blessing last week to a new RV park off of Broadway.
With a 4-1 vote, the council approved a conditional use permit for the Rain Spirit development, a park with a maximum of 70 spaces for recreational vehicles.
The site is at 551 Broadway, on just over 9.5 acres that had been previously approved for a church.
Water and electric access is already on the site, according to the town’s community development department.
The people behind the park don’t plan to expand the RV park beyond the area that has already been disturbed.
Gary Clouston is the man who wants to open up the park.
“The idea of developing an RV park came to us recently when we were traveling through the area in our RV,” Clouston said. “We wanted a place to park our RV for a few days but found our options were very limited.”
Clouston’s plan calls for 61 spaces for recreation vehicles.
Some residents expressed their concerns in a public hearing at the council’s Oct. 13 meeting.
Those concerns included light and noise pollution, something resident Nobe Trump was worried about.
“I plan on limiting both the intensity and duration of lighting at the resort to comply with the town’s lighting code and in the interest of the town’s dark sky environmental policy,” Clouston wrote in a letter to the town.
Clouston and his wife also intend to live on the property.
When a new development might open isn’t set in stone.
Clarkdale Community Development Director Jodie Filardo said that Clouston is still working on closing on the property.
When that happens, Filardo said the owner will have to submit a detailed plan to the town’s design and review board for approval.
That will include a review of everything from landscaping to buildings on the premises, Filardo said.
“It’s still a ways away,” Filardo said.
Councilman Bill Regner cast his vote against issuing the permit.
While Regner said he supports the development, he wanted to see more thorough town oversight when it comes to exactly what will be built at the site.
Regner said he wanted a closer look at what kind of access lanes might be needed on the main road to access the property.
Regner was also concerned about compliance with the town’s noise rules and making sure that the structures built on the property fit in.
“I’m not opposed to the project,” Regner said. “I just think it needs more consideration. I would just like things to be a little more clear. It’s a great project though and I look forward to seeing it in Clarkdale.”
Under the terms of the permit approved by the Town Council, a fire hydrant will be installed on the property. A planned swimming pool will be limited to 20 feet by 40 feet and the maximum length of stay for an RV will be six months.
No tents or other shade structures attached to an RV would be allowed.
Clouston said he plans to use mostly rain and recycled water from the showers and laundry facilities for landscaping.
