The Planning Advisory Board on Aug. 20 approved an amendment to the Osceola Village mixed‑use planned unit development (MUPUD) that adds self‑storage facilities to the list of permitted uses and amends sign standards in the PUD document.

City staff described the amendment as a text change to the existing MUPUD; the Osceola Village project was originally approved in 2009 and includes single‑family homes, townhomes, multifamily units, commercial development and a medical/rehab hospital. Staff recommended approval and noted that site‑plan review will still be required for any new self‑storage facility and will enforce applicable design rules in the Land Development Code.

Developer and applicant remarks: developer Richard Wilfarth, who identified himself as the engineer and planner for the project, said the site is substantially built and that a three‑story, architecturally treated self‑storage facility is envisioned. He said the development already includes retail space under construction and that the proposed self storage would serve the on‑site multifamily residents and nearby medical uses.

Board discussion: several members questioned whether permitting self storage in a MUPUD supports the city’s comprehensive‑plan objectives favoring compact, walkable and mixed‑use development. Board members cited Comprehensive Plan policies that prioritize human‑scaled, mixed‑use environments and encouraged ground‑floor retail in non‑industrial contexts.

Staff response: city staff clarified that site‑plan review under Land Development Code section 14‑6‑47 (self‑storage facility requirements) will still require ground‑floor retail/office/restaurant where the code mandates it; the current action was limited to adding the use to the PUD’s list of allowed uses rather than approving any particular design.

Board action: a motion to amend the proposed ordinance to strike self‑storage as a permitted use was moved and seconded but failed on a recorded voice vote. The board then voted to approve the PUD amendment that includes self storage and sign‑standard changes; the main motion to approve was made by Diana and seconded by Alex and was adopted by the board.

What this means: self‑storage is now an allowed use in the Osceola Village MUPUD. Any future self‑storage building will still be subject to site‑plan and design standards — including any ground‑floor commercial requirements — at the DRC review stage.