Planning staff recommends short-term special use permit for roll-off container storage at 2101 Clearwater Drive; board to consider May 5

City planning staff recommended the Board of Aldermen approve a temporary special use permit to allow outdoor storage of empty and unused roll-off containers at 2101 Clearwater Drive while the property owner completes site improvements and installs required screening.

Christina, planning staff, told the board the property — Parcels 13-31-05-000-000-008.001 — has shown outdoor storage since at least February 2003. She reviewed the city's screening code, noting that Section 240.05(g) requires nonresidential trash receptacles and containers visible from a public thoroughfare to be screened by a minimum 6-foot wall, solid fence, or natural barrier; chain-link slat screening is permitted only in M-1 and M-2 zoning and must be opaque. "The properties are currently zoned in 1 light industrial district," Christina said, and added that staff does not want to see unscreened storage but acknowledged the owner is performing land-disturbing work to level and improve the site and intends to install screening once settling is complete.

Staff recommended approval with two conditions: the applicant must install the required screening once land-disturbing activities are complete and settling has occurred, and the special use permit will carry a five-year time limit, after which a new permit would be required to continue outdoor storage without the screening in place. Christina said planning staff considered a similar use — a solid waste transfer station approved by special use permit in 2019 — when evaluating compatibility.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5–0 to recommend approval. The board opened and closed a public hearing on the matter at the meeting; no members of the public spoke. The mayor closed the hearing and the ordinance (Council Bill 14) is scheduled for reading and further consideration at the May 5 board meeting.

At this meeting there was no board vote to grant the special use permit. The action before the board on May 5 will determine whether the permit is granted and, if so, whether any additional conditions or a shorter time frame are imposed.