Raymond is one step closer to having a new RV park located near downtown. The city council gave the go ahead for the city to issue a conditional use permit during the first council meeting of the month on Monday, March 4. The permit allows the property to be used for other purposes than it was originally intended and begins the long process to development and final city approval. The new RV park would be located near the intersections of Heath Street and US 101 and the SR 6 and US 101 roundabout. It would be an addition to the Chevron also known as the 101 Quickstop.
A long road of back and forth
The City of Raymond has been deliberating in council meetings and through the planning commission for several months over RV park regulations. The first round of talks began during a city council meeting on Monday, December 3 to discuss a new RV ordinance. Councilman Chris Halpin immediately mentioned he was suspicious of the sudden presentation after he noted during the meeting it was ironic the ordinance was presented following an application to install a new RV park.
For several meetings, the council and planning commission went back and forth about guidelines regarding length of stay, appearance, and health concerns. The major stalling point for most council members was the length of stay period that fluctuated between 30, 60, and 90 days.
Councilwomen Pam Nogueira Maneman and Dee Roberts both openly opposed placing a cap for how long anyone could stay. Nogueira Maneman expressed her concern the new rule would potentially add to homelessness and negatively affect those who are already struggling. Likewise, Roberts voiced her opposition of telling already established RV parks how to conduct their business.
Councilman Kaley Hanson also voiced his concerns with an RV park being located downtown and was concerned the new ordinance would make it easier for anyone to open one. City of Raymond Public Works Director Eric Weiberg quickly explained, "There is certain criteria that has to be met. There isn't a whole lot of places that can meet it and it isn't that easy."
During a following city council meeting, the planning commission recommended the length of stay be decreased to only allow stays of up to 30 days along with issuing criteria for appearance and upkeep of any RV park. Weiberg, the planning commission, and the mayor continued to work out the specifics of the ordinance.
The showdown
The proposed RV park was flipped from one city council meeting to another after property owner and potential RV park owner Kyung Suk Han wanted to be present to discuss his concerns. The two areas of concern were the length of stay and the requirement in the ordinance that an RV park have a fence located around it. The council and city have had concerns that the location presents a potential liability due to two main roadways in the immediate vicinity and urged a fence be required.
Han addressed the city council, mayor, and residents in attendance directly during public comment and pleaded his case for issuing the conditional use permit to move the project a step closer towards development. "I put all my investments into the property," Han said. "So I am truly committed. So hopefully all council members will proceed with this project. So I can start the project as soon as possible."
Halpin had a few questions of his own and wanted to make sure Han was fully committed to the project and the city. "I would like to make sure the applicant understands the sensitivity of this property and what it looks like," he said. "It needs to look good. It is an entrance to our city and it cannot look trashy."
Han replied directly to Halpin and stated, "I committed 10 years ago and removed all the brush and cleaned the property. I totally understand. This is my place and this is my home. I am totally committed."
Next to address Han directly was Councilman Ian Farrell who discussed the city's prior experience with a conditional use permit regarding a large project with the Monohon Landing Apartments. He briefly discussed the time it took the city to go through the proposed project and the delicate process it took. He then addressed Han about his request to change the length of stay from the 30-day maximum that was proposed.
The limit periodically bounced between 30, 60, and 90 days and was even proposed to be unlimited before being set at 30 days prior to the council meeting. Farrell went on to explain the idea of the length of stay is to prevent the park from turning into a trailer park and negatively affect the cities image. Roberts then questioned how the city planned to police the length of stay. "I'm sorry but I am just playing the devil's advocate here," she said. "I don't like the 30 days. I think it should be 90 days."
After further deliberation between council members, Weiberg and Han the length of stay was changed from 30 days to 90 days in a 180 day period after an amendment proposed by Roberts. The vote for the amended conditional use permit was 4-2. Han was commended for all the hard work he has put into the property and the project. Council members still requested a visual of the plans for the park and asked to see them in the future.
The project still has a long road ahead before it becomes a park
Even though the City of Raymond has issued the conditional use permit Han will still be required to install a fence around the property. Which creates a few more hurdles due to the permitting needed to install one. Permits will need to be issued by Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Ecology, and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. According to Roberts, she believes the permits are one of the reasons why Han has had contention about any fence requirements.
The RV park preliminary plans show that it would have approximately 30 RV stalls around the perimeter of the property and a few in the middle. The plans do not show any proposed camping areas or a location of a bathroom facility which will be required on the property. The bathroom will have to have stalls for both men and women including showering stations.
Numerous calls to the City of Raymond Public Works Office to clarify the park's plans have gone unanswered. No further details were available at the time of reporting. The process after the conditional use permit is approved by the city council now rest on the public works department. Before any building permit can be obtained all parameters of the conditional use permit must be met.