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Property owner asks about open storage on Hwy 77; commission and county attorney point to code chart and upcoming corrections
Summary
A property owner asked the Washington County Planning and Zoning Commission May 5 whether gated open outdoor storage for boats and RVs would be allowed on commercially zoned land on Highway 77; commissioners and the county attorney advised consulting the county’s land‑use code chart and suggested waiting for a planned chart cleanup.
A property owner attending the Washington County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on May 5 asked whether open outdoor storage for boats and recreational vehicles would be allowed on commercially zoned property along Highway 77 near the prison.
The commenter, identifying himself as a property owner, said he owns commercial storage buildings on Highway 77 and would like to add gated, lighted open storage for boats and campers. He said he was told open storage must be allowed only on industrial property.
Matthew Fuquay, Washington County attorney, told the owner he had not been asked to review the specific parcel and recommended the owner contact the prison to ensure there were no objections from that institution. Fuquay said he was not clear on why the county code would require open storage to be limited to industrial areas and directed the owner to file an application and fee if he wished to pursue a formal change. "I haven't been asked to look at it, so I... I don't... I hadn't either," Fuquay said, and advised the owner not to proceed until staff provided clear direction.
Commissioners and staff explained that the county's land‑use code includes a chart listing allowable uses by land‑use category and that the chart contains errors the county is preparing to correct. Commissioner Roger Hagen and others suggested the owner wait for a planned cleanup of that chart, which could reassign open storage to a different land‑use box without requiring a separate industrial rezoning. "We have a chart that says it's industrial land use and it says stories. But we also have some things in there that are wrong," a commissioner said, summarizing staff comments. At least one commissioner said the change could be completed in a few months; staff indicated that filing an application would likely push consideration to July if not timely submitted for the June agenda.
Commissioners and staff also noted that fencing does not require a permit and that existing storage could be fenced while the owner waits for code corrections. No formal application or vote occurred on the item during the meeting.
