June 27, the Camp Verde Town Council unanimously approved the final development plan put forward by Red Moon Development and Construction for the Red Moon RV Park. The park is set to be built on 65 acres of land north of the intersection between Interstate 17 and State Route 260.
“I think this will be a beautiful facility once it’s completed,” Camp Verde Vice Mayor Jessie Murdock said during the meeting.
Murdock noted that the plans provided at the meeting were detailed and organized.
“I just appreciate the attention to detail and how wonderful it will look, and what an asset it will be for the community,” she said.
The proposed park will feature 413 RV spaces of different sizes and amenities for guests, such as a clubhouse and convenience store, pickleball courts and more. The plan aims to provide low-intensity lighting that is in accordance with the International Dark-Sky Association and Camp Verde’s regulations, and the lights will point downward.
According to Krishan Girige, president of Southwestern Environmental Consultants — the Cottonwood-based civil engineering firm handling much of the construction — the project should begin soon, and the RV park is expected to be finished and ready to open in roughly six months.
Girige said all those involved have been helpful and eager to get the project approved and moving forward.
“As long-time partners of Verde Valley when it comes to land planning and engineering, I’m glad to see a project of this nature,” Girige said. “I think this will be a significant project for Camp Verde.”
According to Steve Ayers of the Camp Verde Economic Development Office, the development is a success for Camp Verde’s recently implemented opportunity zone status, which gives developers federal tax breaks for buying and improving land in low-income land recognized by the U.S. Treasury Department.
“As soon as they found out we were an opportunity zone, they moved in and bought that property,” Ayers said.
Girige said that a goal of the construction will be to ensure that it blends in with the surrounding landscape. The RV Park will feature a pond, as well as an irrigation ditch to manage its location in a flood plain.
“When developing a project of this nature, it’s important to use the existing land to the best use,” Girige said.
For both the town and the developers, the approval is a hopeful sign, and it correlates with the town’s plan to increase development and economic activity.
“It’s setting the bar for what’s coming ahead in the future,” said Camp Verde Community Development Director Carmen Howard during the meeting.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
