Council moves quickly to rein in RV park growth
The Albany City Council approved a new ordinance Monday night establishing strict regulations for recreational vehicle parks within city limits, a move aimed at managing rapid growth and maintaining local standards as nearby development accelerates.
The City of Albany Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance, passed on a 4-1 vote, sets minimum requirements for size, design, and operation of any new RV parks. The measure follows months of discussion about the growing number of recreational vehicles in and around Albany, driven largely by construction workers connected to nearby data centers and large-scale projects in Taylor County.
Under the new rules, RV parks must sit on three to five contiguous acres and meet detailed standards for health, safety, and appearance. All pads and internal roads must be concrete or asphalt, with 15 feet of separation between RVs, landscaping on at least 25 percent of each lot, and an eight-foot opaque fence surrounding the property. Each park must also connect to the city’s water and sewer system—no septic systems will be allowed.
Developers will be required to obtain an annual city permit costing $500 for parks with 10 spaces or fewer or $750 for larger developments. Each park must designate a local manager, maintain detailed occupancy records, and provide adequate fire protection and refuse service.
Existing RV parks will be grandfathered in, though they must obtain yearly permits. Any new parks, expansions, or ownership transfers will fall under the new ordinance.
City Manager Billy Holson said the action was necessary to stay ahead of a sharp rise in temporary housing developments. Albany currently has about 88 RVs in use within city limits, with four additional parks in the works that could add up to 50 more spaces. Some of those are located in or near flood-prone areas where, by law, the city cannot extend utility service.
Council members agreed that the ordinance was needed immediately to prevent uncontrolled growth.
Council members agreed the ordinance needed to be approved immediately, noting that additional RV parks could be proposed before the next meeting if no regulations were in place. Lynsi Perry made the motion to adopt the ordinance, Lester Galbreath seconded, and the measure passed on a 4-1 vote. Chris Beard cast the lone vote against, saying he wanted more time to review the full document before approval.
The new rules come as nearby communities see massive RV developments tied to regional construction projects, including a 2,300-lot RV park under construction in Hamby to house data center workers. While officials said the growth is a positive sign for the Big Country economy, they emphasized Albany’s responsibility to maintain its quality of life.
“It’s a good problem to have,” one council member said, “but we don’t want to be overrun.”
The ordinance is designed to ensure that any future RV park developments meet consistent standards for safety, appearance, and infrastructure, helping the city maintain orderly growth as demand for worker housing increases across the region.
Fire department report
Fire Chief Joel Viertel reported that firefighters responded to 11 incidents over the past month, with a total of 19 different volunteers participating across multiple calls. The list included one grass fire, one power line arcing, two gas leaks, one structure fire, two car fires, two auto wrecks, an 18-wheeler rollover, and an 18-wheeler/box truck crash requiring victim extrication.
Viertel said the department’s new battery-powered extrication tools have already been used in three different accidents, proving effective in reducing response times.
Annexation petitions
In other business, the council voted to accept two petitions for voluntary annexation from the Development Corporation of Albany—one for a 42.09-acre tract and another for a 13.939-acre tract on the east side of town.
The action sets up a public hearing on both tracts, allowing residents to comment before any annexation becomes final. Staff were directed to prepare Annexation Service Agreements and publish notices for the hearings in accordance with state law.
