The Valley City Council (Nebraska) has given preliminary approval to a scaled-back version of a controversial RV park along the Platte River.
In a recent Modern Campground report, some critics are worried that the plan could increase the risk of flooding and violate federal regulations prohibiting construction in areas susceptible to flooding.
According to a report, as tentatively approved at the council’s Tuesday night session, the proposal would allow up to 240 RVs along a 3/4- mile stretch of the river in western Douglas County. The site is located where West Maple Road dead-ends at the river and is immediately downstream of the residential area known as Sokol Camp.
In the latest version of the plan, developer Brad Brown removed airboat access, cut at minimum 50 RV slots, and cut back camping season by a month. In the new plan, campers will be able to have access beginning May 1 instead of April 1.
Council members Mike Stanzel and Bryon Ueckert voted to approve the plan, while Linda Lewis and Chris TenEyck voted against it.
Several hundred residents have also signed petitions against the park, and a number of them have hired lawyers who testified against the park. One of the arguments offered by lawyers and others is that the proposed plan violates the city’s conditional usage ordinance and could affect the city’s status in terms of flood insurance.
The RV park will be situated on the “wet side” of the river. One of the biggest concerns of the opponents is whether the RVs could be evacuated safely and without endangering the evacuation of existing property owners.
Toilets, showers, and other facilities will not be included in the park because it is located in a floodway, where permanent construction is prohibited.
Brown said an RV park is the highest and best use of the land since no permanent construction can be done there.
This story originally appeared on Omaha World-Herald.