The Fairview Planning Commission on March 18 approved PC0125, a commercial site plan for Fairview Self Storage, a 2.72-acre self-storage project on Map 47, Parcel 6 owned by the Deborah Thompson Living Trust, after adding conditions requiring masonry on all four sides of the building and below-grade stormwater detention.

The commission’s action followed a staff presentation on the application’s requested exceptions — tree bank, sidewalk, above-ground detention, steep-slope disturbance and building-materials — and subsequent discussion with the applicant and technical consultants. Planning staff reported the applicant had revised the building-materials request to provide at least 70% brick on three sides and additional landscaping along Fairview Boulevard, while continuing to request above-ground detention at the rear of the site.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they were concerned about visible building materials and the long-term appearance and utility of above-ground detention as the area develops. Two specific concerns—masonry coverage and stormwater detention type—were sufficient to trigger amendments to the commission’s recommended approval.

During the public discussion, Commissioner Jeff McDonald said he remained “against it” because of long-term planning concerns around above-ground detention and future development potential on the parcel behind the site. The applicant’s representative described the proposed above-ground detention as a vegetated “divot” or water garden that would be screened by existing and proposed vegetation and would not resemble concrete-walled detention typical in residential areas. Jonathan Evans of Evans Engineering explained portions of the site contain artificially placed fill that produces localized slopes exceeding 20% and clarified which slope areas are existing fill versus natural terrain.

The commission voted first to amend the staff recommendation to require 70% masonry coverage on all four elevations rather than three. That amendment was moved from the chair and seconded; the amendment passed on a roll call. The commission then moved and approved an amendment to remove the underground-detention exception and require below-grade detention instead. That motion passed on a subsequent roll call.

Final action: The commission then voted to approve PC0125 as amended. The final recorded vote on the item listed the following member votes: Mister McDonald — Aye; Ms. Schulist — Aye; Ms. Williams — Aye; Ms. Schilling — Aye; Mayor Anderson — Aye; Mr. Magner — Aye; Mr. Kelly — Aye; Mr. Pate — No. The chair announced “Item PC0125 passes.”

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners’ discussion included objections to multiple requested exceptions and to above-ground detention in an area that could see future commercial development; the commission converted those concerns into conditions of approval rather than denying the application. Staff confirmed that some canopy/vegetation depicted in plans is outside the applicant’s property line and clarified which onsite trees would be preserved. The applicant agreed to increase masonry coverage if required.

What’s next: The approved site plan moves into final administrative processing per city procedures; the commission’s written conditions require 70% masonry coverage on every elevation and below-grade detention as approved conditions of approval.

Sources: Planning staff report and presentation; statements by the applicant’s representative; engineering comments from Jonathan Evans; verbatim roll-call votes from the March 18 Planning Commission meeting transcript.