Chapter 17.90
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS
Sections:
17.90.020 General requirements.
17.90.025 Type of application.
17.90.030 Criteria for locating a recreational vehicle park.
17.90.040 Planned development permit required.
17.90.050 Application and site plan.
17.90.060 Completion prior to occupancy – Phasing.
17.90.090 Recreational vehicle park administration.
17.90.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to ensure that recreational vehicle parks are located, developed and occupied in accordance with standards and regulations which will protect the health, safety, general welfare and convenience of the occupants of such parks and the citizens of the city of Tonasket. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.020 General requirements.
A. No recreational vehicle (RV) shall be used as a permanent place of abode, or dwelling, for indefinite periods of time. Occupancy in an RV park by any occupied RV for more than 30 consecutive days shall require the operator of the RV park to register the RV for extended stay in the RV park with the administrator. Unoccupied RVs may be stored for indefinite periods of time; provided, that they are stored in a clean manner and not unsightly. Also, a manager or host of an RV park shall be exempted from the extended stay requirements. An appropriate registration fee may be charged as determined by resolution of the city council.
B. Any action toward removal of wheels of an RV, except for temporary purposes of repair, or placement of the unit on a foundation, is prohibited.
C. RV parks shall be maintained in a tidy manner. The accumulation of debris, outdoor storage of equipment not directly related to recreational use, or derelict vehicles (as defined in Chapter 8.20 TMC as the same exists now or may hereafter be amended) shall not be permitted.
D. No external appurtenances, such as carports, cabanas or patios, (excluding retractable awnings and table tarps) may be attached to any RV while it is in an RV park.
E. No space within an RV park shall be rented for any purpose other than those expressly allowed by this chapter. RVs shall only be located in appropriate areas within designated RV sites, and not in buffer or open space areas.
F. Fuel fired electrical power generators shall not be permitted.
G. No person, company or corporation shall establish or expand an RV park without first complying with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.025 Type of application.
An application for a private RV park is a planned development and the planning commission makes the final decision. The application shall be processed as set forth in Chapter 17.110 TMC. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.030 Criteria for locating a recreational vehicle park.
Privately owned RV parks may only be established on property within the city which meets the following criteria:
A. RV parks shall be permitted as per Table 1, TMC 17.70.020, in the R-R, C-2, MU and PU districts subject to first obtaining a approval upon application and pursuant to criteria established in this title.
B. The minimum site area of an RV park shall be one and one-half acres.
C. RV parks shall be located with direct access to a minimum of a local minor arterial as designated in the Tonasket comprehensive plan. Appropriate frontage must be available to permit appropriate design of entrances and exits. No entrance or exit from an RV park shall be permitted though a residential district nor require movement of traffic from the RV park through a residential district other than on a local minor arterial.
D. The planning commission shall approve an RV park planned development application if the commission finds that the proposed project complies with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 17.110 TMC and will likely not result in unreasonable impacts to a particular neighborhood because of the cumulative size and number of RV parks in the neighborhood, taking into consideration the RV park development for which application is made, or if the planning commission finds other impacts which cannot be reasonably mitigated by applying the standards and provisions of this title. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.040 Planned development permit required.
A recreational vehicle park shall be allowed only upon approval of a planned development pursuant to this title and Chapter 17.110 TMC. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.050 Application and site plan.
In addition to the requirements of a completed application as set forth in Chapter 17.110 TMC, an applicant for an RV park planned development shall submit a site plan. The site plan shall be subject to review, modification, approval or denial by the planning commission. An approved site plan shall constitute an integral part of the approval for the RV park, and shall be binding upon the owner of the property, its successors and assigns. All development within the RV park shall be consistent with the approved site plan. Such site plan may be modified or amended at the request of an owner upon receiving written approval of the administrator; provided, that if said modification or amendment is determined by the administrator to be substantial in nature, then such modification or amendment shall be resubmitted to the planning commission for review and reviewed as if it were an initial application. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.060 Completion prior to occupancy – Phasing.
All required site improvements and other conditions of this permit and site plan shall be met prior to occupancy of any site by an RV; provided, that completion may be accomplished by phases if such phases are identified and approved in the PD. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.070 Design standards.
The purpose of this section is to establish minimum design standards for RV parks.
A. Density. The number of RVs permitted in an RV park shall not exceed a density of 22 units per gross acre. The planning commission may limit density further to insure compatibility with the surrounding areas.
B. RV Site Size. Each individual RV site shall be not less than 800 square feet in size. Open space and buffer areas shall not be included in calculating allowed RV site size.
C. Access Points. Entrances and exits to the RV park shall be designed for safe and convenient movement of traffic into and out of the RV park and to minimize friction with free movement of traffic on adjacent streets. All traffic into and out of the RV 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 approaching driver in the right lane of the street within 100 feet of the intersection with the RV park entrance.
D. Parking. At least one off-street parking space shall be provided on each site. At least one off-street parking space for each 15 sites shall be provided for visitor parking in the RV park.
E. Internal Park Roads. All internal RV park roads shall be privately owned and maintained. They shall be constructed to private street standards adopted by the city and street standards and guidelines for developments. Park roads shall have minimum improved width as follows:
1. One-way road, no parking: 12 feet;
2. One-way road, parking on one side: 18 feet;
3. Two-way road, no parking: 22 feet;
4. Two-way road, parking on one side: 28 feet;
5. Two-way road, parking on both sides: 36 feet.
F. Open Space/Recreational Facilities. A minimum of 20 percent of the RV park shall be set aside and maintained as open space for the recreational use of RV park occupants. Such spaces and locations shall be accessible and usable by all residents of the RV park for passive or active recreation. Parking spaces, driveways, access streets and storage areas are not considered to be usable open space. The percentage requirement may be reduced if substantial and appropriate recreational facilities (such as recreational buildings, swimming pool or tennis courts) are provided.
G. Setbacks. No RV site shall be closer than 20 feet to any exterior RV park property line abutting upon a major arterial, shoreline, or residential district, or 15 feet from any other exterior RV park property line. Permanent structures within an RV park shall have minimum front and rear property line setbacks of 20 feet each, and minimum side yard setbacks of 10 feet each.
H. Landscaping/Screening. The RV park shall provide visual screening and landscaping as required in perimeter setback areas and open space. Landscaping may consist of suitable ground cover, shrubs and trees; provided, that they are installed prior to the first occupancy of the park and are of such species and size as would normally fulfill a screening function within five years of being planted. Site development shall be sensitive to the preservation of existing vegetation. All trees, flowers, lawns and other landscaping features shall be maintained by the RV park owner in a healthy growing condition at all times. The landscaped area shall include a designated pet exercise area, if pets are permitted in the RV park.
I. Fencing. In addition to landscaping requirements, a six-foot-high view-obscuring perimeter fence may be required by the planning commission when deemed appropriate.
J. Signs. Recreational vehicle parks shall be limited to one park entrance sign and such interior directional or informative signs as may be needed for the convenience of guests. All signs are subject to provisions for accessory uses in the use district for which they are located and, in the case that the RV park is within the jurisdiction of the Tonasket shoreline master program, the most restrictive provisions shall apply. All park spaces shall be marked by numbered sign posts.
K. Utilities. Water, sewer and electricity shall be provided to each recreational vehicle site. All utility lines in the park shall be underground and shall be approved by the agency responsible for inspection.
L. Storm Drainage. Storm drainage control facilities shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of TMC Title 15 and applicable state laws.
M. Public Facilities. RV parks shall provide the following facilities in such quantity, size and location as required by the planning commission:
1. A water distribution system connected to the city’s water utility. Fire hydrants, in number and location, shall be required as specified by the fire chief and the city public works superintendent;
2. A water station for filling recreational vehicle water storage tanks;
3. Restroom facilities containing showers and toilets connected to the city’s sewer utility, the minimum number of which shall be one commode, one lave and one shower for each gender for each 22 RV sites or fraction thereof;
4. A sanitary waste station for emptying sewage holding tanks of recreational vehicles;
5. Refuse containers for solid waste in adequate quantity shall be placed in approved locations, as specified in the site plan, and picked up by the city’s garbage collection service. Garbage can and/or dumpster locations shall be screened from view by a fence or landscaped enclosure, as specified on the site plan.
N. Walkways. When required, pedestrian walkways shall have a three-foot minimum tread width.
O. Americans with Disabilities Act. RV parks shall be designed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.080 Accessory uses.
Management headquarters, recreational facilities, restrooms, dumping stations, showers, coin-operated laundry facilities, and other uses and structures customarily incidental to operation of an RV park are permitted as accessory uses to the RV park. In addition, grocery stores and convenience shops shall be permitted as accessory uses in the discretion of the planning commission, subject to the following restrictions:
A. Such establishments and parking areas primarily related to their operations shall not occupy more than five percent of the gross area of the RV park.
B. Unless allowed in the district, such establishments shall present no visible evidence from any street outside the RV park of their commercial character which would attract customers other than occupants of the RV park.
C. Unless allowed in the district, the structures housing such facilities shall not be located closer than 50 feet to any public street and shall not be directly accessible from any public street, but shall be accessible only from a street within the RV park. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).
17.90.090 Recreational vehicle park administration.
The owner of an RV park shall be responsible for the development and maintenance of the RV park in strict conformity with the site plan, the PD, and all applicable laws and ordinances. A contact person shall be identified who can be contacted and respond within a maximum of 30 minutes at any time of day regarding emergencies or other problems that may occur within the RV park. (Ord. 778 § 2 (Exh. A), 2017).