The Sunrise Manor Town Board on an administrative hearing unanimously approved time extensions and related waivers for two industrial projects, while members of the public urged the county to consider protections for adjacent single-family homes.

Staff recommended approval of a first extension of time for Exhibition LLC’s use permit for an outside storage yard on about 3.3 acres east of Dolly Lane and south of Judson Avenue; the board voted to approve the staff recommendation. Applicant Cliff Carroll told the board that “building permit application process is taking a little bit longer than was expected,” and that the owner is proceeding with the development of the entire parcel.

A second extension of time and waivers for Prologus LP — covering throat depth, parking-lot landscaping, cross access and alternative street landscaping and design review for a proposed distribution center on about 8.77 acres near Alto Avenue west of Lamb Boulevard — also was approved after the applicant, Teresa Wolf, told the board the previously approved site plan remains unchanged and that the developer’s earlier permits had expired because the industrial market paused. "The developer wishes to proceed with this project," Wolf said.

A resident who spoke during the public-comment portion urged the board to consider the long-term consequences for the small island of houses that would remain amid new industrial development. The speaker asked rhetorically, “Who here would like to have a house surrounded by industrial all around them?” and warned that homeowners in the area are not wealthy and could lose their life savings if property values decline. The speaker noted that when the project previously came before the board, the board had required “no truck parking” signs on Alto Avenue as an accommodation. The same speaker suggested the county consider acquisitions or buyouts, or other mitigation, for impacted homeowners.

Board members asked for follow-up discussions; one board member asked staff to meet with county general or Metro staff to discuss broader planning concerns and mitigation options for similar projects elsewhere in the county. The board did not condition either approval on a buyout program; both motions passed by voice vote with the board recording the outcome as unanimous approval.

Both approvals were for extensions of previously approved land-use entitlements in airport-related overlay zones noted by staff (airport AE overlays and APZ 2) and applied to properties inside the Sunrise Manor planning area. Staff said the applicants will proceed under the previously approved site plans and the conditions set by staff and public works.

The approvals do not change previously adopted conditions of approval or the zoning designations; the board recorded the approvals as motions to approve staff recommendations and announced unanimous votes in favor.