Chapter 15.12
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS
Sections:
15.12.050 Procedure for approval.
15.12.060 Preexisting operations.
15.12.010 Purpose.
The city council finds that R.V. parks require regulations to assure compatibility with surrounding land uses, to avoid health and safety hazards, to prevent potential damage to the environment and pressure on public services, and for the general welfare of the citizens of the city; that certain regulations are necessary controlling the development, use, location and operation of R.V. parks. (Ord. 426 § 1, 1985)
15.12.020 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this chapter:
“Recreational vehicle” means a vehicle type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle. The basic entities are:
1. Travel trailer;
2. Camping trailer;
3. Truck camper; and
4. Motor home.
“Recreational vehicle park” means a lot of land upon which two or more recreational vehicle sites are located, established or maintained for occupancy by recreational vehicle of the general public as temporary living quarters for recreation or vacation purposes.
“Recreational vehicle site” means a plot of ground within a recreational vehicle park intended for the accommodation of either a recreational vehicle, tent or other individual camping unit on a temporary basis. (Ord. 426 § 2, 1985)
15.12.030 Standards.
The following standards shall apply to R.V. parks:
A. Site Conditions. The condition of soil, ground water level, drainage and topography shall not create hazards to the property or the health or the safety of the occupants. The site shall not be exposed to objectionable smoke, noise, odors or other adverse influences, and no portion subject to unpredictable and/or sudden flooding or erosion shall be used for any purpose which would expose persons or property to hazards.
B. Soil and Ground Cover. Exposed ground surface in all parts of the travel trailer court shall be paved, or covered with stone screening, or other solid materials, or protected with a vegetative growth that is capable of preventing soil erosion and of eliminating objectionable dust.
C. Drainage Requirements. Surface drainage plans for the entire tract shall be reviewed by the city supervisor, who shall determine whether the proposed plan is compatible with the surrounding, existing drainage pattern.
D. Minimum Area. The minimum area for R.V. parks shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet. The maximum number of R.V.s shall not exceed the total acreage of the site, divided by one thousand four hundred (1,400) square feet.
E. Required Separation Between Recreational Vehicles. Recreational vehicles shall be separated from each other and from other structures by at least ten feet.
F. Sites. Each site shall contain a stabilized vehicular parking pad of gravel, paving or other suitable material.
G. Vehicular Circulation. Each R.V. park shall be designed so as to assure adequate site distances for vehicles, adequate area for vehicles to maneuver within the parameters of the park, and so as to permit the necessary flow of traffic through the park.
H. Integration with Adjacent Land Uses. The park shall be located and designed in such a manner to avoid interference with adjacent land.
I. Parking Requirements. There shall be spaces provided for each recreational vehicle. There shall also be additional parking provided of at least one parking space for each recreational vehicle site.
J. Access. Entrances and exits to the recreational vehicle park shall be designed for safe and convenient movement of traffic into and out of the park and to minimize friction with free movement of traffic and adjacent streets. All traffic into and out of the park shall be through such entrances and exits. No entrance or exit shall require a turn at an acute angle for vehicles moving in the direction intended, and radii of curbs and pavements at intersections shall be such as to facilitate easy turning movements for vehicles with trailers attached. No material impediment to visibility shall be created or maintained which obscures the view of an approaching driver in the right lane of the street.
K. Accessory Uses. Management headquarters, recreational facilities, toilets, dumping stations, showers, coin-operated laundry facilities, and other uses and structures customarily incidental to operations in a recreational vehicle park and campground are permitted as accessory uses to the park. Accessory uses, however, must be approved as part of integrated park and shall not be constructed without city approval.
L. Recreational Facilities. A minimum of ten percent of the total site area for the recreational vehicle park or campground shall be set aside and developed as common use area for open or enclosed recreation facilities.
M. Yard and Setbacks. Recreational vehicle sites and off-street parking spaces shall be located within the yard and setback areas required for main buildings in the zone in which the recreational vehicle park is located. Except, that no recreational vehicle parking pad shall be located nearer than ten feet from any park property line abutting upon a public street.
(Ord. 465 § 2, 1988)
15.12.040 Prohibited uses.
Except as provided in Chapter 15.10, spaces shall be rented by the day only and the occupant of a space shall remain not more than three months in any one-year period. No recreational vehicle shall be used as a permanent place of abode, dwelling or business or for indefinite periods of time. Continuous occupancy extending beyond three months in any twelve (12) month period shall be presumed to be permanent occupancy. (Ord. 761 § 1(A), 2018: Ord. 426 § 4, 1985)
15.12.050 Procedure for approval.
The city council shall be responsible for review and approval of R.V. park plans and no construction or development of an R.V. park shall commence without council approval. The first step in seeking approval shall be an application for review which shall contain the following information:
A. Name, address and telephone number of applicant;
B. Interest of application in the proposed development park;
C. Location, address and legal description of entire proposed recreational vehicle site;
D. Existing zoning of subject property and all adjacent properties;
E. Complete engineering plans and specifications of the proposed recreational vehicle park showing:
1. The area and dimensions of the entire tract of land,
2. The land uses occupying the adjacent property,
3. The number, size and location of the proposed recreational vehicle sites and other parking areas,
4. The location, right-of-way surface roadway width, and surfacing material of roadways and walkways and camping spaces,
5. The proposed interior vehicular and pedestrian circulation plans,
6. The location of service buildings, sanitary stations or any other existing or proposed structure or improvements,
7. The location of water and sewer lines and riser pipes,
8. Plans and specifications of the water supply, sewage disposal and refuse facilities,
9. Plans and specifications of all buildings to be constructed,
10. The location and details of lighting, electric and gas systems,
11. The location of all drainage easements to comply with county drainage plans.
The application and associated information shall first be reviewed by the planning commission, or in the event the council determines that planning commission approval is unnecessary, then in any such event, the city supervisor shall review the plans and report to the city council within thirty (30) days after the application, with plans, is submitted to the city clerk.
The council shall determine whether the R.V. park will have a significant impact on adjacent landowners and in the event such an impact exists, the council shall set a hearing date and notify adjoining landowners, who shall have the opportunity to appear and be heard on whether or not the proposed site complies with the terms of this chapter, other ordinances of the city and the city’s master plan.
The council shall determine by a majority vote whether to approve or disapprove the site as submitted in the application. The council may request the applicant provide additional information or amend its plans to conform with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 426 § 5, 1985)
15.12.060 Preexisting operations.
If a lawful operation of a recreational vehicle park exists prior to the date of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter and such operation would not be allowed in the city under the terms of this chapter, the lawful operation may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful, subject to the following:
A. No existing park shall be enlarged, extended, moved, or altered except in compliance herewith;
B. When a nonconforming operation of a park is discontinued or abandoned for six consecutive months, the premises shall not thereafter be used for a recreational vehicle park except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 426 § 6, 1985)
15.12.070 Violation—Penalty.
The construction or operation of an R.V. park within the limits of the city, except in compliance with this chapter is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each day of occurrence of such violation. Each day or part of a day of operation shall constitute a separate offense.
The failure to construct R.V. park facilities as submitted in the application approved by the city council, shall also constitute a misdemeanor subjecting the violator to a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each day the R.V. park is operated out of compliance with plans. A bona fide effort on the part of the R.V. park operator to correct any deficiency or variance from the submitted plans shall be a complete defense to prosecution under this chapter, provided the operator’s conduct is diligent, and evidences a good faith desire to comply herewith.
Alternatively, or in addition to prosecution in municipal court, the city may commence an action at law or in equity, to include injunctive relief against a violator, in the superior court of Okanogan County. In the event the city prevails in any such action, it shall be entitled to an award of its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs in bringing such action. (Ord. 426 § 7, 1985)