Planning commission recommends renewal of two Storage Mart special-use permits on Oldham Parkway

The Lee's Summit Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend City Council approve renewals of two special-use permits that allow Storage Mart mini-warehouse facilities to operate at 953 Southeast Oldham Parkway and 465 Southeast Oldham Parkway.

Shannon McGuire, the city's planning manager, told commissioners the applications seek only to continue existing uses; no expansions or exterior changes were proposed. "With the conditions of approval as I have outlined here and in the staff letter, the application does meet the goals of the Unite comprehensive plan and the requirements of the UDO," McGuire said, adding staff verified repairs and landscaping had been completed.

The two sites are longstanding commercial uses on the south side of Oldham Parkway, near U.S. 50. McGuire said the 953 Oldham Parkway property consists of 19 single-story buildings totaling a little more than 65,000 square feet and has been in use since February 2005. The 465 Oldham Parkway site includes 18 single-story buildings totaling a little over 87,000 square feet and has been used as storage since 1978. Staff reported no active zoning or property-maintenance cases for either site since their earlier approvals.

John Mullane, attorney for the applicant, identified himself as representing Storage Mart and asked the commission to recommend approval. "We are here before you tonight for the renewal of a special use permit for the property at 953 Southeast Oldham Parkway to continue operating a mini warehouse facility," Mullane said.

Commissioners asked about site maintenance and the condition of perimeter fencing, landscaping beds and stormwater/erosion features. Commissioner Jake Loveless asked about a section of chain-link fence on the east side and whether landscaping in front of the building had been maintained. McGuire said staff's site visit found necessary repairs had been made and that the applicant installed nine trees and 54 shrubs where required; staff will require ongoing maintenance as a condition of approval. Commissioner Terry Trafton said he appreciated the added landscaping while noting it may take several years for plantings to fully mature.

For the 465 Oldham Parkway renewal, McGuire said a prior condition on an earlier permit had required a vinyl-clad chain-link fence; that condition had not been met under prior ownership. Staff and the current applicant agreed to remove that specific condition because the existing chain-link fence met current standards and was in good repair.

Votes at a glance - PL2024-327 — Special-use permit renewal, mini-warehouse facility, Storage Mart, 953 Southeast Oldham Parkway: Planning Commission recommended approval (roll-call: Jerry Frazier — yes; Jake Loveless — yes; Terry Trafton — yes; Dana Arth — yes; Randy Bembrock — yes). - PL2024-280 — Special-use permit renewal, mini-warehouse facility, Storage Mart, 465 Southeast Oldham Parkway: Planning Commission recommended approval (same roll-call tally: all yes).

The commission's recommendation forwards both renewals to City Council for final action. Commissioners and staff noted the renewals impose standard conditions requiring continued site maintenance and upkeep of newly installed landscaping. The meeting record shows no written opposition had been filed for either application and one neighborhood meeting for 953 Oldham Parkway drew a single attendee who raised questions about an existing berm that staff reported has been addressed.

The commission moved next to other planning items after the two votes, including discussion of administrative thresholds for materials and setbacks on future consent-agenda items.