A proposed “Luxury RV Park” will be built at the end of Sovis Road in Madison, not far from Love’s Truck Stop, to create “alternative lodging options” for tourists and short-term tenants.
The Madison Mayor and City Council unanimously approved a map amendment to rezone 35 acres from a Light Industrial/Manufacturing District (I2) to a Planned Commercial District (PCD) in order to accommodate the unique development.
Brooks Pennington, who is developing the property, said this particular parcel of land has too many “topographical challenges” to develop for an industrial business despite having an industrial zoning classification.
“This really is the ideal place for an RV Park,” said Pennington. “It focuses traffic where we want it, off Exit 113 toward Love’s Truck Stop and will have little impact on the environment.”
The “higher-end Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park” will include between 110 to 120 gravel parking sites with sewer, water, electrical hookups and high-speed internet. Each site would be sized at 35’ x 55’ (70’) and the site will include a bathhouse with laundry facilities. Only RVs that are less than 10 years old will be allowed at the park, with the exception of some speciality luxury RVs that are older.
Pennington told the Madison Mayor and City Council on Monday, Aug. 12 that the site will have a variety of security features to ensure optimal safety measures for RV visitors and the community as a whole. The site will include security cameras, a license plate reader at the entrance, at least one manager on-site around the clock, with additional staff on-site during regular daytime hours, and background checks required for all RV visitors staying more than 14 days at a time. Pennington also said that RV guests can not set up residence by using the site as an address to register to vote or receive mail on site.
Pennington is also granting the city a 10-foot easement for the development of a portion of the Madison Greenway trail system and gifting $20,000 in cash for the development of the trail within the easement.
While the project was approved unanimously by the council, Councilman Eric Joyce expressed scepticism over an RV Park being a luxury destination, likening it to having a “luxury trailer park.”
“Are we creating a less-than-optimal type of housing in Madison with a facility like this?” asked Joyce.
However, Pennington stressed that trailers and mobile homes would not be allowed in the park and that measures could be put in place to prevent people from overstaying in the park, despite not having hard limits on the length of stays. Pennington said the park could mandate that an RV owner move sites after a year to prevent staying in one spot too long and attempting to set up a permanent residency.
Pennington said he expects the park will have an influx of short-term visitors coming to visit the Georgia Conservation Safari Park and families coming to Madison during baseball season for the popular games at the Morgan County Recreation Department.
“I think this is the highest, best use for this property that will benefit the community,” said Pennington.
