What is a site plan?

Article By:

Intermediate Urban Designer

Almost every adventure starts with a plan. Whether it's personal, business or both, I believe having one allows you to tackle obstacles systematically, never missing a step, no matter how small. 

Whether it is about completing several university assignments or starting a new company, it is crucial to have an organized approach. With RV parks and campgrounds, taking a well-organized approach is key since it helps develop the business and creates a holistic experience for the clients/customers.

In a COVID-19 world, the popularity for outdoor activities like camping hiked up, and a surge in RV sales in 2020, which inevitably led to the rise in RV parks. For this purpose, my intention with this article is to help developers understand the process and essential elements that come into play to deliver an outstanding experience to future travellers, and it all starts with a site plan.

The Development of RV Parks

Since RV's provided a safe space for families to holiday together, it became a thriving niche in the tourism industry. According to the North American Camping Report in 2020, camping was the most popular way to vacation by most travellers. 

There are several factors to take into consideration when developing a campground orRV park. However, even though every state or province may have different regulations, a few initial steps will set the project for success no matter the location.

Four basic steps when planning for RV developments: 

  • Feasibility and market studies
  • Site plan
  • Zoning approval
  • Operations

Preliminary research will determine the unique characteristics of each project. For example, the market and environmental analysis combined with the feasibility of the development will foresee the demand of the recreational needs. Moreover, it will outline the development's assets for each community's needs. 

It's important to design a site plan, which will include all the recreational and functional components of the park. At Nadi Group, we feel the site plan holds all the crucial details of the RV park, including how many sites for RVs, cottages or tents, and what type of passive and recreational activities are available for visitors.

 Once the site plan is approved, the developer can complete the permit process to comply with local zoning regulations, and finally, construct and operate the park. 

Site Planning for RV Parks

A site plan contains all the pieces of the puzzle for the development. The design of the site plan is a comprehensive process that incorporates the traveller's needs with the services, amenities and environment of the park. 

For any development, including RV parks, regulatory codes must be kept in mind when approaching the site plan as it will cover regulations regarding water drainage, electricity, garbage collection, and so on. Since the world is in a post-lockdown phase, a site plan must also include methods that allow the campers to maintain proper etiquette like social distancing.

The growing demand of local travellers due to the current pandemic has also increased the need to provide a variety of camping options, not only for a wide range of RV types but for campers looking for tenting or glamping, which gives the visitors a more luxurious way to enjoy nature without missing the commodities of home. 

Another essential element to include in the site plan are the amenities. Designed to enhance the traveller experience--from clubhouse, pools, playgrounds to dog parks--the amenity design will likely guarantee longer stays and future return of travellers. 

Finally, a site plan should embrace the nature of the parcel and enrich the character of the outdoors. In other words, the site plan should provide sustainable recreation, which is the ultimate goal of any campground. 

Word of Advice

A well-designed site plan will not only guarantee the success of the park, but it will also become every developer’s introduction letter to attract other investments and lead the industry with innovative ideas. 

The RV park and campground industry has proven to be a resilient market, which means providing top quality design and services. RV parks must evolve their marketing strategies to adapt and thrive with changes related to demand, character and traveller experience. 

The Nadi group knows that starting a business is challenging. But, with our team’s expertise in site planning design, we are committed to delivering beautiful, functional and environmentally sound RV campgrounds. 

If you have a piece of land waiting for planning or would like to improve your RV park, please don’t hesitate to give us a call to find out more about how the Nadi Group can help you every step of the way. 

So, please stay safe and call us to start planning your RV park with an exceptional RV site plan!

DETROIT
3150 Livernois Rd. Ste. 136
Troy, Michigan
48083
248-651-5518
Toll: 844-669-6234

WINNIPEG
289 Garry Street, Suite 300
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 1H9
204-669-6234
Toll: 844-669-6234

TORONTO
51 Wolseley Street, Unit 100
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 1A4
204-669-6234
Toll Free: 844-669-6234

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