Maggie Valley allows all RV classes in PUDs
Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen voted Aug. 17 to allow class A, B and C recreational vehicles in RV Planned Unit Developments. Previously, the board had discussed allowing PUD status for RV parks, only if vehicles were restricted to class A.
The town has received interest from developers who want to be able to subdivide their proposed RV parks, but the current approved density yield is cost prohibitive. According to town ordinance, the purpose of the PUD status is to afford substantial advantages for greater flexibility and improved marketability through permit flexibility in building sites, mixtures of housing types and land use. Residential densities are calculated on a project basis, thus allowing the clustering of buildings to create useful open spaces and preserve natural site features.
When the board discussed allowing PUD status for RV parks in July , Mayor Mike Eveland asked for caution in making a change that would have implications for all of Maggie Valley.
“Keep in mind, if this was just for one individual property, that would be great. But that’s not the case, we’re changing the actual rules and the ordinance. And I don’t believe that we want to open up the door for campgrounds throughout the valley,” he said.
Following the July meeting, the board was prepared to allow PUD status for RV parks that only allowed class A vehicles. Class A Recreational Vehicles are defined as self-contained RVs constructed on either a truck chassis or commercial bus chassis that typically has a flat or vertical front end with large side windows. These types of RVs may also feature “slide outs” which when parked allow larger internal living areas.
However, at the Aug. 17 meeting Alderwoman Twinkle Patel presented a packet of information to the board regarding other classes of RVs. Eveland chafed at the idea of presenting new information to the board at a regular board meeting saying that it would be more appropriate to discuss new information at the agenda setting meetings.
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“We should have had time to look at this, we’re having to vote on this tonight and all this comes to me now. I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but this is just not the way we do things,” said Eveland. “If you want campgrounds, you can vote for that, just make sure everybody in the valley knows you voted for campgrounds. This should have been in the [agenda setting] meeting. There’s no way I should be sitting here looking at this now, having to make a decision on this.”
“Are we not supposed to do our homework?” asked Alderwoman Tammy Wight.
Patel noted that some of the RVs she presented in classes B and C cost over $100,000.
“Who are we discriminating against?” Patel asked.
Planning Board Chairman Jeff Lee spoke from the floor, stating that there was some confusion about the differences between Class A, B, and C. The intent was to have high-end, nicer motorhomes.
Eveland said that some motorhomes in class B look like vans.
Frankie Wood, the Ghost Town In The Sky developer responsible for bringing the RV/ PUD issue to the board, spoke from the audience at the board meeting, stating that everything the board was discussing would be restricted by the Homeowners Association he would create for the development. The town attorney told the board that if they were going to accept comments from the public, they would need to reopen a public hearing on the issue. The board did not.
Alderwoman Patel made the motion to revise a section of the text amendment allowing PUD status for RV parks, allowing class A, B and C recreational vehicles. Mayor Eveland opposed the motion, which passed 4 to 1.
“Developments deemed RV/PUD shall be limited to Class A, B, and C Recreational Vehicles. Recreational Vehicles are defined as a self-contained RV constructed on either a truck chassis or commercial bus chassis that typically has a flat or vertical front end with large side windows,” reads the text.
