Planning Commission approves expansion of Thousand Trails RV park in Gilroy with conditions on trees and lighting

The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on June 26 approved a land‑use application to expand the Thousand Trails (Morgan Hill) recreational vehicle park near Gilroy, authorizing 44 additional RV stalls, a 1,401 square‑foot restroom building, interior roads, bioretention ponds and site landscaping. The approval included adoption of a revised mitigated negative declaration and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program.

County principal planner Rob Salisbury told the commission the project proposes a 7‑acre expansion (reduced in later submittals to about 4 acres developed) at 12411 Merriman Lane, directly south of the existing park. Salisbury reported the grading quantities as approximately 2,319.89 cubic yards of cut and 1,966.04 cubic yards of fill; the expansion would add 44 RV sites and 48 vehicle parking stalls (two accessible). Existing utilities—sewer, water and power—would serve the expansion; the applicant does not propose new employees beyond the existing 16.

Salisbury said the county prepared a mitigated negative declaration circulated for 20…