A zoning change for a 15-acre site that would allow a high-end RV park next to the Sunset Greens subdivision was unanimously approved by the Mesquite City Council at its Tuesday, Oct. 8 meeting.

While there was some opposition to the change voiced by several nearby homeowners, there was more support for it based on applause from those who attended the meeting when Councilman George Rapson threw up his hands and said, “I don’t understand why there is any opposition to this. I’m voting for this. Just so you know.”

The site is currently zoned for General Commercial (CR-2) for retail, office, and service type uses with surrounding land closer to the new MacDonald’s restaurant zoned as Hotel Tourist for resort hotels and related uses. The land is owned by the Hafen family and will be leased to the developer and not sold.

According to city documents, “The proposed new zoning would allow RV Motor Home Park development meaning an area or tract of land where lots are rented or held out for rent to accommodate a recreational vehicle overnight or for less than 3 months.

“This will be a good transitional use between low density residential properties and higher intensity commercial properties to the north.  The densities of the conceptual RV Park plan and Sunset Greens are comparable – Sunset Greens is 6.35 units per acre and the RV Concept shows 7.84 RVs per acre.”

Tentative plans call for 132 RV parking sites, two swimming pools, four hot tubs, four pickle ball courts, other upscale amenities, and two clubhouses, one on each end of the park. The pads will be 60-70 feet long and approximately 27 feet wide.

Access to the park will be from West Hafen Lane, just past the entrance to the Casablanca golf course clubhouse.

Secrist said that while his office had received complaints that not all 699 Sunset Greens homeowners received an official city notice about the zoning change, municipal codes only require notification to those within a 750-foot radius of the change. Many homes are located up to three-quarters of a mile away.

“If our staff goes beyond the code requirements, it may give the appearance that we’re trying to gin up opposition to the project,” Secrist said.

Additionally, he mentioned that Kraig Hafen had also conducted an open meeting for all homeowners in September during which they could gather information and ask questions about the development. About 100 people attended.

“All the notifications were conducted properly,” Secrist said.

While the issue at hand was the zoning change, Secrist and several others reminded people that the developer will be required to develop extensive and detailed site plans and bring them back to the city for approval.

At the end of addressing the council about the project, Hafen jokingly said that it was always possible for his family to bring the cows back that had grazed there for years in the past.

Rapson also said, “This is the highest and best use for this land and the least offensive to Sunset Greens homeowners,” as he listed potential alternatives that could be located on the site. “The average age of an RV owner is 50 to 68 years old. They go to bed at nine o’clock.”

Councilman Brian Wursten agreed completely with Rapson saying, “he took the words right out of my mouth. Unless someone gives me a good reason, I support this.”

One homeowner questioned the impact on home values in Sunset Greens from the project. Rapson said, “No one knows. The question is, a person owns a piece of land. It’s zoned commercial. What would it do to your property values if they built a strip mall with laundromats, bars, small casinos? Do you know?”

The homeowner replied, “I’d rather have the cows back than an RV park.”

A short discussion took place regarding the private road that runs between Leavitt Lane and Hafen Lane, locally referred to as ‘No Name Road.’

Mayor Al Litman said it was on private property of which the city has no jurisdiction.

Rapson agreed saying, “This is a business decision between the Hafens and the developer. If that road becomes a barrier to occupancy, they will make a change. If it’s not, they won’t. I understand that.”