Planning commission opens revocation hearing for Schofield storage project, defers decision 30 days

The Planning Commission opened a revocation hearing Monday for the site-plan approval and conditional-use permit for a personal storage facility at 8211 and 8311 Schofield Avenue after staff reported that several storage units had been leased before final inspections and that key site deficiencies remained.

Staff summarized the project's timeline: phase 1 building permit (Buildings A and B) was issued May 29, 2024; phase 2 permits were not issued; an electrical permit was recorded Nov. 25, 2024; and a stop-work order was posted Nov. 22 after staff learned units were being leased prior to final inspections. Planning staff said they have worked with the developer and the lending company over the prior 70 days to correct deficiencies but that the site still lacked required site lighting and had unfinished pavement.

Developer Owen Jones told the commission he "partnered with someone that was the general contractor who, obviously, didn't do everything he was supposed to do and unfortunately moved to Arizona," and that he had taken over the project and intended to finish it. The commission and staff discussed options to address the electrical and lighting shortfall that prevents safe nighttime access: running conduit on the exterior of buildings (to be painted to match the facade) versus coordinating electricians to gain access to each occupied unit and run interior wiring. Jones said exterior conduit could be painted to match and that the exterior option would be faster; he also said his electrical contractor was ready to mobilize.

Staff advised that temporary certificates of occupancy (temp OCs) could be issued for the west half of the site once state building inspection and electrical inspections verified completion and that final items such as paving and landscaping would remain part of the original site-plan conditions and could wait until spring. Public commenter Jim Pinsonal urged the commission to consider liability exposure to the village if people remain in occupied units on an incomplete site.

After discussion the commission voted to defer the revocation decision to the March meeting (approximately 30 days) to allow the applicant time to complete the electrical/lighting work and coordinate inspections. Motion to defer was made by Zagami and seconded by Jordan; the motion carried by voice vote.