Lots of dollars for RVs

(The following article was written by Gary B. Gray of Media General.)

An unusual zoning law has opened the door for a developer to divide land into tiny plots for recreational vehicle parking near Bristol Motor Speedway.

Mike Hamlin, an attorney for Bristol’s Interstate Development Co., displayed a preliminary drawing of a lot that would be behind Race Day Center condominiums across Volunteer Parkway from BMS.

“Some have views of the speedway; others do not,” Hamlin said of the lots.

“But we expect a median price of about $75,000 given that we will have buyers with fi nancial means.

“We expect these people will be downtown and at restaurants making a fi - nancial contribution to the city.” The Bristol, Tenn., City Council unanimously approved the new zoning district late Tuesday.

Interstate Development offi cials were not available for comment on Wednesday, and it is not known how many lots might be placed on the site. Electric and sewer hookups already are installed. Bob Icenhour, Sullivan County’s property assessor, said the company stands to make “a bundle of money.”

“An acre is selling for more than $124,000 out there,” he said. “So when you think about selling a piece of ground about the size of a motor home for $75,000 – yeah, they’ll be making out.”

Icenhour said both the city and county will benefit.