A proposed RV park in Temple, Texas, is encountering challenges due to concerns over road safety and expansion requirements. The development, planned for a 30.9-acre portion of a 74.3-acre property at 16801 and 16803 NE HK Dodgen Loop, raised questions among residents and city officials about its impact on local infrastructure.
At a Temple City Council meeting, local resident Susan Bradford expressed concerns about the safety of the RV park’s entrances. Bradford highlighted the risks posed by large vehicles entering and exiting Loop 363’s traffic.
“Safety for an RV to pull in off that very, very fast part of the Loop and or even to pull out and gain speed to get on that highway,” she stated. “You put an RV park in there where you’ve got a big RV slowing down… the thousands of vehicles that use (Loop 363) day to day, I can foresee a problem so it needs to be addressed,” she explained, as reported by Killeen Daily Herald.
City officials acknowledged the need to address these safety concerns, noting that Loop 363 would need expansion to accommodate the proposed Middle Road, a 41-foot alternate route connecting the highway to the RV park.
However, this solution requires coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). City Manager Brynn Myers explained that while TxDOT would not “build the acceleration or deceleration lanes for the developer,” once constructed, these lanes would become part of the TxDOT system.
The proposed RV park includes plans for 150 spaces, with a maximum of seven spaces per acre, in accordance with local zoning regulations. The development prohibits permanent residency, limiting leases to six months.
Planned amenities include showers, bathrooms, laundry facilities, a pool, playground, walking paths, and a dog park.
The city has outlined several conditions for the RV park’s approval. These include the submission of a subdivision plat, the installation of a six-foot sidewalk along one side of the road, the construction of six-foot fencing around the park’s perimeter, and an eight-foot fence surrounding the septic field.
After deliberation, the City Council unanimously approved the conditional use permit.
