Editorial on proposed RV park & letters from citizens

The Rich Civic Times investigated Sun Communities in Arizona and Colorado.  https://www.sunrvresorts.com/   and it is our conclusion that a zoning change to allow RV resort parks in the suggested Garden City area should not be allowed.

The Public Hearing at the Garden City Planning and Zoning 

is at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5 at the Lakeview Building 

next to the City offices.

They are proposing a RV park on 110 acres in Garden City on the Boulevard between Hodges Canyon and Kimball Lane with 500 + RV spots and some amenities.  The Sun Resorts seem to be nice and well run.  But the resorts also are in places, unlike the case in Garden City, where there are strains on our water and sewer system.  We are also struggling with adequate policing in high tourist times.

The question becomes too whether or not we will abide by the City's Master Plan that was developed over a period of months with significant citizen participation.  That plan suggested zoning for single family homes or agricultural use.

The area they are proposing is zoned for single family homes and would be ideal for small homes for first time home buyers and empty nesters. It is not ideal as a trailer park or a transient RV park which changes the nature of the community.

RV parks in this area have turned into permanent villages; just remember the two  Sweetwater Trailer Parks.  Can you imagine what something five times the size of Sweetwater Parks would look like and be in five or six years? 

We did look at the trailers for sale in  Arizona and Colorado Sun Communities and have added two of them here for an example. 

Several people have reached out to Rich Civic  Times with comments, we are including some here:

 

Garden City is a beautiful community to live in because of the rural residential appearance.  Especially coming down from the summit.  I am sad to say that view has been changing the last few years.  Now we see blue covered boats parked in a field west of Heritage park, storage sheds across the road from the cemetery, an RV park next to the city office complex and a Glamping park next to that.  Fourteen 4-plexes are being built across the street from the city complex, more storage sheds, a car wash, Bear Lake Propane, the gravel pit and Epic boat repair east of that. 

Then there is the new 60-unit duplex plan west of the new shopping center.   The city is becoming a rental community, not a fulltime family community without a growth plan.  The P&Z Commission has allowed developments that weren’t part of the Bear Lake Blueprint or city plan and it is fast becoming a transient community with no focus.

The proposed 500 sites will overwhelm the current services.  With an average of 4 people per site that will basically double the population of the county.  How can the sewar, water processing plant, markets, marina and beaches handle an over night explosion because the sites could fill up in a couple of weeks.  Not to mention the potential impact to the police and fire department.

You can say what you want, but RV parks over time become an eye sore to the community.  The property value of the surrounding homes will go down according to my short google research.   

We already have 7 RV parks in the area, we don’t need another one especially this size that will totally change the look and living standard of this beautiful part of the county.  The city and county don’t have the funds to prepare for the impact to the current infrastructure in a short timeframe.  The city council and county commissioners need to prevent growth this type and size from happening.

Randall Knight

I am extremely concerned about Garden City’s infrastructure! There are already so many new houses that have been built and many more being built as short term rentals. What is the long term goal for Garden City? Is there a Master Plan? 

Kathie Anderson

Our little town is so precious because it is a little town. I don’t mind sharing it in the summer with all the people who visit and love it. But adding 500 more RV spots with all the human requirements they bring, including traffic, and possible associated crime, is very worrisome. Once we allow this, there’s no going back. I hate to think GC could turn into a tourist trap like Niagara Falls or the Wisconsin Dells with motels, gift shops, hamburger joints recreational rentals and pizza places on every corner, all green spaces taken up by commerce. Please let’s consider all before a decision is made.

Shari Gonzales

OPEN LETTER TO THE GARDEN CITY PLANNING COMMISSION:

 My husband and I went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina one year.  As we drove through an adorable, quaint little town we admired the beauty.  As we continued on, we saw a small house, then next door was a trailer, then next door to that was a million dollar home and then another small house.  We looked at each other and said, “Don’t they have any Planning Commission who would make wise decisions on appropriate zoning?  The residents have to live with their mistakes for generations, maybe forever.”  

What a shame a few people can ruin it for everyone.  The fact is that the beautiful, quaint town of Garden City with its 600 residents has its future in your hands.  The Commission’s agenda for this week alone has approval requests for some 83 RV spots and 43 A-frame cabins all within the City limits.  That doesn’t include the request for the overwhelming 512 RV spots for Sun Communities.  That’s not just 512 people, it’s 512 times 2 or 3, as most campers don’t travel alone. 

 I’m not opposed to RV parks, but as responsible Planning Commissioners representing the residents of Garden City, we  ask you to keep  Garden City  just that, Garden “City”, not “Garden RV Park” and let the RV and camp enthusiasts establish their temporary communities in an appropriate mountain location that doesn’t change what the people who came before you worked so hard to accomplish nor the lives of the people who come after you.  You’ll never be able to undue this decision. 

CONCERNED CITIZENS