City Council reverses Planning Board, approves special-exception for Hillpoint Way self-storage

Palm Coast City Council voted to reverse the Planning and Land Development Regulation Board's denial and find the Hillpoint Way self-storage special-exception application consistent with the comprehensive plan and Unified Land Development Code, subject to staff-recommended conditions.

The decision came after Community Development planner Michael Hansen described the project and the staff recommendation for approval. "This particular request for the appeal is for a special exception to allow mini warehouse, or self storage, in our COM 2 zoning classification," Hansen said. He told council the site is about 6.8 acres along Pine Lakes Parkway and that the applicants proposed roughly 99,585 square feet of climate-controlled storage with about 850 storage units and roughly 26 outdoor spaces for boats or RVs.

Hansen told council staff's technical review found the proposed self-storage use would generate far fewer vehicle trips and far less sewer demand than a comparably sized COM-2 retail/shopping center. He cited the applicant's…