City Council approves annexation for RV resort

 Council members voted unanimously to approve annexation and a C-1 zoning designation subject to a development agreement. In a separate motion, they also approved a conditional use permit for the campground.

 The parcel is located on the east side of Highway 95, south of the Weiser River and the Weiser River Bridge. It is across the highway from a 4.39-acre parcel where Maverik, Inc. plans to build a new fueling station/convenience store. (See story on page 1)

 Dubbed the Weiser River Trailhead RV Resort, the park will have 110 total sites for a combination of motorhomes, pull-behind trailers, and equestrian trailers in addition to potential tent sites. All 110 sites will have full hookups, which include water, sewer, and electricity.

 Jamie Parker, owner of Parker Properties, said his wife, Megan, who is a Weiser native, brought him to the area 12 years ago for the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest and Festival.

 “We just had a blast, but I noticed everyone camped out on the high school football field and felt it was a little bit odd that there wasn’t a campground around with full hookups to accommodate the patrons,” he said, addressing the council. “I noticed this property and thought it was an excellent candidate for that opportunity.”

 Parker said the proposed RV park will not be for long-term tenants, rather serve as a seasonal recreational hub for Weiser.

 “My wife said she floated the Weiser River growing up and this is an excellent spot,” he said. “If you start high up, you can pop out right here by the bridge.”

 Parker said part of his plan includes a tube conveyance system at the RV park, as well as a bus to take people up stream to float the river. He added that the Weiser River Trail is an amenity park guests will want to utilize.

 “If you go to the Weiser River Trail website, they say right on there that there is no good access point if you are in Weiser, trying to start at the bottom of the trail,” he said. “Being right across the river from the starting point, we’ve been working with Maverik quite extensively to get an access point underneath the bridge, over to the sidewalk and up to the Weiser River Trail starting point. We think it’s excellent access for bicyclists. We even have spots in there for equestrian trailer parking [for people] who want to access the site for that purpose, as well.”

 Parker also mentioned a proposed non-motorized bicycle park planned for land off Weiser River Road. The group working on the bicycle park obtained 1,000 acres from the BLM and has reportedly received grants and other funding to develop the land. More information on that project will be provided as it comes available.

 The RV Park could be a place for bicyclists to park and then cruise to the bike park, which is about two miles away. The RV park would provide bike rentals.

 Some other park amenities would include a dog park, small convenience store with camp-type items, laundry facilities, premium spots with fire rings, and picnic tables at all spots. There would also be a fishing pond, clubhouse with pool, volleyball and pickleball courts, playground equipment such as slides and swings, and a green area for open events.

 Parker Properties launched its effort to acquire the parcel in fall 2022, speaking to city staff about utility connections and boring underneath the river for water and sewer. They have teamed up with Maverik for the water, planning to hook up to its 12-inch main that will be bored 30-feet below the river.

 “As far as the sewer line, staff has indicated they do not want to put a public lift station on the other (south) side of the river, and that we would need to bore individual service lines underneath the river for our own service purposes,” Parker explained.

 Like Maverik, the entrance would be located at the extreme southern portion of the property to help mitigate line of site issues in relation to the Weiser River Bridge. Because the parcel lies in a flood zone, the park would be closed from December to February, remaining open from March to November.

 Parker, who said he hopes to have the park open for business by Memorial Day 2024, said the design plans reflect a high-end RV resort with lots of trees. Considering it is the entryway into Weiser, he told Weiser Planning and Zoning in February that he is willing to work with a committee on landscaping, fencing, layout, design, and materials.

 “I think it’s great,” said Mayor Randy Hibberd of the project. “I think it’ll be good for businesses here in town because those people just won’t be staying in the RV park; they will be going to other businesses; they will be going downtown to check things out; they will be going to our restaurants, so I think it is very good. It’s a very good use of that land. It’s something that can be cleared out if it floods and protect itself when it floods. It’s a good use for that property.”