BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
At a Oct. 16 meeting, Bradford County commissioners sitting as the Board of Adjustment considered a special exception request involving the development of a new recreational vehicle park and campground, postponing any action.
The application, brought by Karavan Starke LLC, proposed the construction of 80 to 88 RV spaces on property north of Starke and east of U.S. 301, covering roughly 34 acres, with approximately 13 acres designated for upland development. The land has already been cleared for the purpose.
Eric Evans, a civil engineer with Emerio Design, presented the site plan and responded to questions from commissioners. The proposal includes a stormwater pond, a domestic well and a septic system currently in the design phase.
Commissioners expressed several concerns related to the project. Chief among them were potential traffic hazards due to the lack of a deceleration and turn lane into the property. They also pointed out that traffic traveling south would have to make a U-turn to arrive at the park.
According to Evans, the Florida Department of Transportation required a traffic study, but the study determined no turn lane was needed.
“They’re going to require us to turn in a turning template to show that designed vehicles could get in there safely. And so, the U-turn would be something that we’d be concerned about as well,” he said. We initially approached them about doing an aligned cross intersection across 182nd Street, and they flatly said, no, you’re not going to place it there.”
Further questions from the board addressed the adequacy of flood control and drainage measures near the Water Road Creek, as well as the water and septic systems.
The board also sought clarification on whether the RV park would host long-term tenants or permanent structures, although Evans said this was not the case.
Because they needed more information, the board decided not to render a final decision at this meeting. Instead, members deferred action on the proposal until the applicant could provide further documentation, including written confirmation of compliance with Florida Department of Transportation guidelines and more detailed plans regarding the site’s utilities and long-term use.
