Recreational vehicle/travel trailer parks and campground standards are intended to ensure that such trailer parks and campgrounds provide safe and rewarding recreational opportunities, promote land use compatibility, mitigate the impact on surrounding land uses and otherwise protect the public health, safety and general welfare. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the use of recreational vehicles and travel trailers, to all recreational vehicle travel parks and campgrounds and to normal and customary accessory uses. (Prior code 17.10.100; Ord. 4 §1, 2005)

Where permitted by the underlying zoning, recreational vehicle/travel trailer parks and campgrounds shall be subject to the approval of a conditional use application filed in accordance with the procedures and requirements of Articles V and VI of this Chapter, including the payment of all required fees. (Prior code 17.10.120; Ord. 4 §1, 2005)

As used in this Article, the following words have the meanings set forth herein:

Active recreation means a type of recreation or activity that requires the use of organized play areas, including but not limited to softball, baseball, football and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts and various forms of children's play equipment.

Approved means written approval, in conformance with this Code and subject to conditions as may be appropriate.

Campgrounds means organized campgrounds, including all federal, state, municipal and county-owned and designated roadside parks and campgrounds; and privately owned campgrounds which are made available, either with or without a fee, to the public.

Camping equipment means a tent, tarp, awning or similar shelter designed for temporary human occupancy.

Camping party means up to a maximum of ten (10) persons occupying or otherwise utilizing a single campsite.

Campsite means any specific area within organized campgrounds or other recreation areas, which is used for overnight stays by a single camping party, exclusive of street rights-of-way and open space/recreational areas.

Recreational vehicle/travel trailer means a vehicular portable structure designed for a temporary or short-term occupancy for travel, recreation or vacation, including but not limited to the following and similar structures: campers, motor homes, trailers, trailer coaches, etc.

Recreational vehicle/travel trailer park means a tract of land designed or being used to accommodate two (2) or more recreational vehicles/travel trailers or campsites for rental.

Sanitary waste station means a facility used for removing and disposing of wastes from self-contained camping vehicle sewage holding tanks.

Service building means a structure containing laundry facilities, service sink, drinking fountain and men's and women's rest rooms and showers. In addition, a service building may include an accessory convenience store and owner/manager living quarters.

Street yard means the land between the perimeter property boundary and the public street improvements. (Prior code 17.10.130; Ord. 4 §1, 2005)

Recreational vehicle/travel trailers and camping equipment may be occupied as temporary dwellings only in the following circumstances:

(1)

The City Manager may approve the temporary use in writing, and with such conditions as he or she deems appropriate, of recreational vehicle/travel trailers in connection with a City-approved development or building project in order to house the administrative and supervisory function, or for sheltering employees and equipment during the construction phase of a project. Such use shall be promptly terminated prior to the approval of a certificate of occupancy.

(2)

On private property for up to forty-five (45) days in any calendar year, including the Garfield County Fairgrounds. (Prior code 17.10.140; Ord. 4 §1, 2005)

(a)

Applicability. All recreational vehicle/ travel trailer parks and campgrounds shall be subject to the standards of this Section.

(b)

Site plan. The applicant shall file a site plan of the park, drawn to scale, demonstrating:

(1)

The boundaries of the park, existing public rights-of-way both within and adjacent to the proposed park, and any physical constraints, unusual topographic or geological features.

(2)

The arrangement of land uses within the park, including but not limited to the location of community facility areas, open space/recreation areas and individual campsites (campsites shall be identified by number).

(3)

A drainage plan that permits adequate surface drainage of the area, is compatible with plans for drainage of adjacent property and conforms with any adopted plans.

(4)

A circulation plan showing the location and widths of all streets with exits and entrances to public rights-of-way designated, as well as all pedestrian walkways within the park.

(5)

The utility layout and easements of record, including size and necessary specifications for water, sewer, natural gas and electrical installations.

(6)

The name and address of the owner and operator, as well as the legal description of the area and the present zoning of the property.

(7)

An outdoor lighting plan illustrating locations and types of light fixtures.

(c)

Permitted uses. Campsites may be used by or for the following:

(1)

Recreational vehicle/travel trailers.

(2)

Cabins without plumbing (KOA style), to a maximum of four hundred (400) square feet.

(3)

Camping equipment.

(4)

Convenience store and retail space - maximum three thousand (3,000) square feet.

(5)

On-site manager housing.

(d)

Campsite occupancy standards. Campsite occupancy records shall be maintained and available for review by City officials upon request. Campsite occupancy by a single camping party or by a specific recreational vehicle/travel trailer shall be subject to the following maximum occupancy limitations per calendar year:

(1)

Recreational vehicle/travel trailers campsite occupancy shall be limited to sixty (60) days. Each recreational vehicle/travel trailer shall display a current license plate.

(2)

Cabin occupancy shall be limited to forty-five (45) days.

(3)

Camping equipment may be occupied for up to thirty (30) days.

(e)

Dimensional standards. All recreational vehicle/travel trailer parks or campgrounds shall conform to the following dimensional standards:

(1)

Minimum recreational vehicle park or campground. The minimum park or campground size shall be three (3) acres.

(2)

Minimum campsite size:

a.

The minimum recreational vehicle/ travel trailer campsite shall be one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet.

b.

The minimum cabin or camping equipment campsite shall be eight hundred (800) square feet.

(3)

Minimum setbacks:

a.

Perimeter setbacks:

1.

Minimum front yard setbacks shall be twenty-five (25) feet; provided however, that adjacent to the state highway, the minimum setback from the highway shall be fifty (50) feet; and

2.

Minimum side and rear yard setbacks shall be ten (10) feet.

b.

Each recreational vehicle, travel trailer and accessory building shall be kept at least twenty (20) feet from other recreational vehicle, trailer and accessory buildings.

(4)

Minimum campsite width. The minimum campsite width shall be thirty (30) feet.

(f)

Public (or private) facilities and services. All public (or private) facilities and services shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of the Public Works Manual and this Code.

(1)

Water supply and sewage disposal. Each recreational vehicle/travel trailer park and campground shall be served by City water and sewer facilities, including fire hydrants and adequate mains.

(2)

Sanitary waste station. Each recreational vehicle/travel trailer park and campground shall include a sanitary waste station (See Section 16-10-30 above).

(3)

Service building. Each campsite shall be within three hundred (300) feet of a service building (See Section 16-10-30 above).

(4)

Outdoor lighting. Security and safety lighting shall be provided along all roads and pedestrian ways, and the light source or bulb shall be shielded from view off-site.

a.

All outdoor lighting shall be directed down or toward a surface.

b.

No outdoor lighting shall be directed towards any adjacent residential use or public street.

c.

Sodium vapor and similar high-intensity light sources shall be prohibited.

(5)

Roads, parking and walks.

a.

All roads shall be paved.

b.

The site plan shall include an internal loop road, unless otherwise approved by the City.

c.

Internal circulation roads shall have a twenty-foot-wide surface, with two (2) ten-foot lanes, or a twelve-foot-wide surface one-way road.

d.

Dead-end roads shall be avoided where feasible; and, where permitted, such roads shall not exceed six hundred sixty (660) feet and have a one-hundred-foot diameter cul-de-sac or hammerhead turnaround at the end of the road approved by the Fire Chief.

e.

Two (2) off-street parking spaces (including the RV space, where appropriate) shall be provided on each campsite.

f.

All off-road parking shall be properly drained and shall have a durable, all weather dust-free surface.

1.

Acceptable surface materials are those resistant to deterioration from weather and/or traffic, including but not limited to: concrete, asphalt, sealed pavers, cobbles, sealed brick or any other material that would have similar characteristics and uses.

2.

Unacceptable materials are those that deteriorate from weather and/or traffic; including but not limited to: gravel, three-quarter-inch road base, volcanic cinders, clinker rock or any other material that would have similar characteristics.

g.

All roads shall be illuminated.

(6)

Drainage facilities. Drainage facilities shall be provided to mitigate the impact of increased impervious surfaces.

(7)

Dumpsters and solid waste receptacles.

a.

Fly-tight, watertight, rodent-proof, dog-proof trash containers shall be provided, and in sufficient numbers and capacity to properly store all refuse generated.

b.

All dumpster and solid waste receptacles shall be set back at least twenty (20) feet from all property lines and screened from view with a fence at least one (1) foot taller than the dumpster or receptacle.

(g)

Fireplaces. Where fires are permitted, each campsite shall be equipped with a fixed perimeter fire pit, adequate to contain and prevent the spread of both fire and ashes, installed at least ten (10) feet from campsite boundaries.

(h)

Landscaping. Natural trees and shrubs shall be retained to the extent determined by the City. In addition, campsite and street yard landscaping shall be provided as follows:

(1)

Campsite landscaping. Each campsite shall have at least one (1) tree with at least two-inch caliper trunk of a species suitable for the Rifle area. (Existing trees on the site may be used to satisfy this requirement.) The street yard, plus a twenty-five-foot-wide landscaped buffer or setback area measured from the property boundary, shall be provided on all sides, to include the following:

a.

Trees shrubs, grasses, ground cover or other organic and inorganic materials that create an attractive appearance and shall be maintained by the owner of the mobile home park (smooth concrete or asphalt surfaces are not considered landscaping); and

b.

One (1) tree with at least two-inch caliper trunk of a species suitable for the Rifle area shall be provided per one thousand (1,000) square feet of street yard area. (Existing trees on the site may be used to satisfy this requirement.)

(2)

Street yard landscaping adjacent to a state highway shall be subject to CDOT approval.

(i)

Open space/recreational area. At least ten percent (10%) of the gross area of each recreational vehicle/travel trailer park or campground shall be developed and maintained as a park, playground or other usable open space, suitable for active recreation.

(j)

Swimming pools. Swimming pools and natural swimming areas shall be operated, maintained and used in compliance with recommendations and requirements of this Code and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Regulations and Standard Governing Swimming Pools and Swimming Areas.

(k)

On-site manager housing. A mobile home, single-family dwelling or other dwelling unit attached to a service building may be located in an RV park and occupied by the manager of the park.

(l)

Maintenance.

(1)

Adequate provisions shall be made for maintenance of all open space, grounds, recreational areas and facilities.

(2)

All open areas shall be kept free of refuse and unused debris. (Prior code 17.10.150; Ord. 4 §1, 2005)