As a savvy entrepreneur, you want to invest in a RV storage business in Alberta that will give you a passive income stream. RV Storage is in high demand as camping has become increasingly popular. It is also driven by city bylaws that restrict recreational vehicle parking. It is important to understand that RV storage design requirements for each municipality are heavily influenced by each municipality’s bylaws. Working with an experienced civil engineer will ensure compliance with the municipality’s bylaws. Furthermore, an experienced civil engineer will offer flexible solutions to optimizing your RV Storage space (and/or boat storage or other recreational vehicles).
City of Edmonton Bylaw Parking Restrictions
City bylaws drive the demand for RV storage. For example, residents in Edmonton are permitted to park their RV between April 1st and October 31st on their driveways. From November 1st to March 31st, residents are required to park their RV in their backyard or garage (if available)or residents must pay for a private RV storage.
Storage Facility Design Requirements
Storage facility design will be influenced by a combination of requirements that includes zoning, environmental wetland assessments, drainage patterns, stormwater management, municipal bylaws, civil design and your vision. Each municipality will have their own set of bylaws specific to that county. For example, in Strathcona county the bylaws will dictate your drive aisles, widths, density of recreational vehicles per lot, drainage patterns, natural screen plants and type of surface (ground must be solid surface). In addition, Alberta Transportation may require that access roads are upgraded to accommodate additional traffic.
Feasibility Study
Undertaking a feasibility study before purchasing a property can determine the economics and limitations for a potential RV storage facility. It is important to go in understanding construction costs and design requirements for that specific municipality and how they will influence your budget. At this stage, it would be wise to partner with an experience civil engineer that can undertake a feasibility study and provide guidance on some development challenges that may be encountered.
Wetland Assessment
A Wetland Assessment is a necessary step that will impact the overall design of the storage facility. Alberta Wetland Identification and Delineation Directive outlines the types of wetlands and indicate which must be preserved or relocated. The Wetland Assessment will indicate if any portion of the land is undevelopable or if you must pay into a provincial wetland bank which will restore the wetland elsewhere. Depending on the scope, the design often has to be altered to preserve wetlands located on the property. The Wetland Assessment must be submitted to the regulatory body along with an application and the development plans (note that a Wetland Assessment is not the same as an Environmental Site Assessment).
Additional Storage Options: Boat, ATV, and Self-Storage
Sometimes we will see a combination of several types of storage in addition to RV Storage. Boat storage, ATV storage, and self-storage are also in high demand and should be considered in the design. RV and Boat retailers who have an influx of inventory often need temporary inventory storage solutions. Similarly, retailers who have too much product may also need temporary self storage solutions. Consider diversifying your storage business will allow you to adapt to market conditions.
Amenities
RV Storage amenities create value for your clientele that will help them choose your facility over your competitors. Amenities such as dump stations, potable water, wide drive aisles, pull through parking, detailing services, indoor climate-controlled parking, gates and other security measures, 24/7 access, automated online payment systems, etc. will keep your customers happy. Ultimately, the goal should be to remove any pain points they may experience trying to store their RV and keep your loyal customers over the long term.
Adjusting Your RV Storage Business Plan
Consider the impact of the RV storage design requirements on how they will impact your business plan. The design requirements can impact the overall business direction and the volume of business you are allowed per site. Managing realistic expectations and adapting your business plan will be a key to RV Storage success. How will you boost your RV storage business during summer months? Will your business be sustainable if you have to shell out cash to upgrade the nearby access roads?
Developing your RV storage design
As you can see, each RV Storage design will have its own unique set of design requirements. We invite you to connect with Bolson Engineering and Environmental Services as your partner in RV storage design and development. Our unmatched expertise will maximize your property to its full potential and ensure your RV Storage development is streamlined. Contact us to discuss your vision.
