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Council approves vacation travel-trailer park in south Midland amid neighbor objections over security and utilities
Summary
The council granted a specific-use designation for a vacation travel trailer park on about 16.66 acres despite objections from nearby property owners concerned about crime, water access and drainage; the developer and staff said the project includes security measures and requires utility extension to serve the site.
The Midland City Council unanimously approved a specific-use designation without term on April 8 allowing a vacation travel trailer park on a 16.66-acre tract at the northeast corner of Cotton Flat Road and Alta Vista Drive.
Elizabeth Triggs, planning and development officer, told the council the request from Blue Mountain LLC (applicant) covers property mostly inside the city limits and was recommended for approval by staff and by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The submitted site plan calls for 13 RV parking spaces, 22 standard spaces and two small dog-park areas; the ordinance requires development to substantially conform to that plan.
Neighbors and property owners spoke during a lengthy public comment period. Michelle Morris, an attorney representing local resident A.L. Mitchell, said "overwhelmingly, the neighbors to the South are against this plan" and argued the location—adjacent to industrial yards and warehouses—creates a security risk because the use is transient and may increase foot traffic near outdoor storage areas.
The applicant and operator said they intend a higher-end, lifestyle-oriented park. Zach Robinson, the project's operator, said the development will be gated, "we have security fence all the way around. We have cameras. It's gated," and described onsite amenities and month-to-month tenancy. Applicant representatives said they vet prospective tenants by reviewing the condition and age of rigs, asking reasons for visits and removing problem tenants on a month-to-month basis; they said they do not perform background or credit checks as a standard practice.
Consultant Andrew Mellon of Maverick Engineering said the site will require a substantial water extension to serve the development: "It also has about 1,200 linear feet to 1,500 linear feet of water line that has to be brought to it just to get this operational." Neighbors asked whether other properties would be blocked from access to water; staff said utilities access would be handled during platting and permitting and that adjoining properties would still have routes to request annexation and connect if they followed city processes.
Police Chief Snow commented generally that higher-quality, professionally developed RV parks tend to attract a "nicer clientele" and said investing in a secure facility can reduce risk, but neighbors continued to express concerns about theft from nearby industrial yards and the possible strain on city services.
Triggs noted the code language uses "vacation travel trailer park" and that the SUD itself does not prevent long-term occupancy: "There is nothing that would stop that via the SUD itself." She also said staff expects the developer to obtain the separate license required by city code when pulling building permits.
Ending: Council members encouraged continued outreach between the developer and neighbors as project permitting, platting and site-level reviews proceed; the council vote approved the SUD and the project will return to staff review for permits and licensing.
