The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved the preliminary site plan for a proposed resort RV park Monday.

Roundabout Oxford RV and Water Resort is being built on about 85 acres off Highway 6 West and County Road 105.

There was little discussion by the board before they passed the preliminary site plan; however, two supervisors thanked the developer, Jay Hughes for investing in the county.

“This will be a wonderful project – not just for Lafayette County but for the people coming into our area as well,” said Supervisor and Board President Brent Larson.

Hughes said he was grateful for the help of the planning department and other county employees during the planning process.

“They’ve worked with us every step of the way,” Hughes said. “It’s been a wonderful opportunity to learn new things.”

The Lafayette County Planning Commission recommended approval of the preliminary site plan last week during its regular meeting as well.

The Supervisors’ approval on Monday allows the development to move ahead with construction.

Along with Hughes, the resort is being developed by Cris Hughes and Drs. Alison and Andrew Ross.  It will have 150 paved spots for RVs with full connections and be filled with amenities and activities, including:  Shaded playgrounds Pools and waterslides Lazy river Hot tub Fitness center Walking trail Yoga/zen garden Shuffleboard and pickleball courts Picnic areas Walking trail Bonfire areas Business center Dog park Golf cart rentals Bathrooms and laundry facilities.

The $22-million-dollar project will bring many jobs to the area during construction. When the resort opens, Hughes estimates it will have an annual payroll budget of more than $1 million.

“We envision the resort not just as a business venture, but as a boon for the local community,” he said.

The resort will be built amongst the beautiful rolling hills of North Mississippi, and the goal is to leave as many acres untouched as possible. Designs for the resort will prioritize the conservation of existing trees, vegetation and ponds, and embrace the natural contours of the land.

“We want to be good stewards of the local habitat and take every opportunity we can to prioritize the environment,” Hughes said. “For example, we will have an on-site glass bottle recycler that will convert discarded glass into sand. We will use the sand in various ways, including on our sandy beach and our sand volleyball court.”

No one from the audience spoke at the meeting Monday against the development. However, more detailed plans were released on Facebook last week, some folks were upset that the amenities would not be available for local residents and only for people staying at the park in either an RV or in one of the small cabins available to rent.

Hughes explained that there will be day passes available for local residents when the park is not full.

“Like a hotel swimming pool, the amenities will first be for the registered guests who have reserved an RV site or a cottage and have an expectation of enjoying the amenities,” he posted on Facebook.  “Like every business, we are limited to the number of people we will be able to host at any one time. The RV sites and cottages will not always be full. We will welcome local day passes to enjoy the amenities when there are empty sites and cottages.”

Hughes said the availability of day passes will be announced on the Roundabout Oxford RV and Water Resort’s social media pages.