Great thread. I'm having a 30x50x14 shop put up by Summertown Metals, with material arriving Friday... should be up by end of the month. Was approx $37K including the slab. We are in unincorporated TN, so no permit or inspection for a pole barn.
Concrete slab will be poured after the structure is up. Putting sleeves into the slab to run water at some point, and 3" conduit for electric service later. Someone here convinced me to add two floor drains along the center line.
Added an open 12x50x12 lean-to that will be gravel for all the same reasons mentioned by others. Leaving space for a second lean-to on the other side.
Two roll-up doors on the 30-foot face - 12x12 and 8x10. The 12x12 is to accommodate the RV, although it will likely get stored in the lean-to. Man door opening to the lean-to.
On the back wall, I'm planning a small enclosed area at ground level (maybe 12ft x 15) with a loft spanning the entire 30ft width mainly for storage and also to be able to walk onto the RV roof as needed. We have steel trusses, so that the entire pitched area of the roof is available. With14ft walls, that gives us 6-10 feet of overhead space in the loft.
I'm not planning to do more than ceiling fans in the main area. Mini-split for the enclosed space.