Planning commission delays Home Depot conditional-use amendment for outdoor equipment storage

The Brentwood Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 12 continued a petitioner request from Home Depot to amend an existing conditional-use permit to allow outdoor display and storage of rental and large-format equipment in the first row of the parking lot along South Hanley Road.

The proposal, presented by Andrew Gribble of Kimley Horn and Associates, would relocate some previously approved storage areas to the east edge of the parking lot near Hanley and create a total of 49 equipment and large-format-equipment (LFE) spaces, while removing some spaces that conflict with a required 20-foot fire lane, Gribble said. "Previously, there was some parking on the north ... and it was a total of 18 spaces that we had previously approved. We now have the 20 foot fire lane that encompasses the building," Gribble said.

Staff and the commission raised questions about fire access, parking counts, visual impacts and whether storage could be consolidated to other areas of the lot. Planning staff (Ms. Kelly) told the commission the proposal moves some storage to the front of the building and that the request is generally consistent with the code requirement for outdoor storage near the building. City-contracted landscape architect Andrew Franke said his primary concern was ensuring the fire access lane remained clear and asked for clarification of where specific spaces were being moved. "Our biggest concern is that the ... fire access lane remain as there were someone right against the building," Franke said.

Commissioners asked whether the proposal would simply legitimize equipment already staged in the front of the store (staff said the staged rental trucks were not part of the application and would need to be relocated or added to the application) and whether the plan removes general-purpose parking. The commission heard the applicant propose separate staging zones: larger equipment to the east near Hanley and smaller trailers and compact rental equipment on the north side near the rental counter. Gribble clarified: "The north is for trailers and compact equipment, and then the East is for the large format equipment."

Several commissioners recommended consolidation of equipment staging to reduce proliferation of multiple storage pockets. Commissioner Jeff Moore noted customer access differences and safety/operational concerns, and Commissioner Jack Shelton urged clearer plan annotations noting which spaces would be removed. Staff and the applicant agreed to revise the graphic labels and consider commissioner suggestions.

Rather than vote on the CUP amendment, the commission voted to continue the application to the Commission's March meeting to allow the applicant and staff to address the commission's requests and update the site and landscape plans. The motion to carry over was moved by "Mr. Nolan" and seconded by Commissioner Paul Moran; the carryover passed by voice vote.

The commission also asked staff to ensure graphics annotate which previously approved storage areas would be removed, to confirm relocation of rental vehicles that are currently parked in the fire lane, and to explore whether the large south parking area or other existing seasonal-storage locations could serve as alternative staging areas.

The item will return to the commission at its March meeting for further consideration.