Developer wins approval for year around RV park

A Meridian developer moved one step closer to building a new year-round RV park just off U.S. Highway 95 on the banks of the Weiser River.

 The Weiser City Council unanimously agreed to waive the seasonal use restriction that would have required the proposed Weiser River Trailhead RV Resort to close from December through February. 

 Parker Properties LLC has spent several years convincing city officials to allow them to turn 18 acres of farmland across from the Maverik gas station into a park with 130 full RV hookups, tent camping, a clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts and sand volleyball.

 “I hope it’s not viewed as though we aren’t supportive,” City Councilman Sterling Blackwell said at a May meeting. “It’s that we want your money to be spent wisely andthat we have a plan to keep people safe.”

 Flooding is the top threat to the low-lying property, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency puts in a “high-risk” zone. Historically, it is one of the first places underwater when the Weiser River breaks over its banks. 

 According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the river has crested in Weiser 48 times since 1955 – most recently in April 2024.  Most of those events, including the last two major floods that submerged whole sections of town in 1979 and 1997, occurred in December, January and February, prompting the city’s seasonal use restrictions. 

 Weiser Public Works Director Mike Campbell highlighted the real wintery risk is an ice jam that causes flooding with little to no warning. 

 “Something breaks free, floods very quickly. The springtime ones we have a lot more monitoring time. We can see the rivers rising. We have weather reports,” he said.

 But Parker argued 22 of the historic crests occurred outside of the winter window, enough to justify year-round operations. The park’s flood monitoring, mitigation and evacuation plan already includes requirements that staff check federal flood data daily and conduct regular evacuation drills.

 “Lifting this restriction will just help the park operations and business overall throughout the year, rather than just nine months,” developer Jamie Parker said. 

 The city council ultimately agreed at its June meeting, but only after delaying a month to double check with the police and fire officials. Neither department objected to lifting the seasonal restriction. 

 “I expected a back and forth on the flood monitoring and evacuation plan prior to this meeting, but if this is the catalyst that initiates that, that’s great,” Parker said. 

 His company will now work with city officials to modify its development agreement. The park has already agreed to follow some of the city’s new design review standards when it comes to building materials and fencing.