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Lexington council weighs new design rules for mini‑warehouse storage; discussion continued to next meeting
Summary
City planning staff proposed new use and design standards for mini‑warehouse (self‑storage) facilities in the C‑2 district; planning commission recommended removal of the use but councilors favored keeping it as a conditional use with stricter standards and asked staff/planning commission to refine standards for a future vote.
Lexington — City planners proposed new use and design standards for mini‑warehouse (self‑storage) facilities and asked the Lexington City Council whether the use should remain allowed as a conditional use in the C‑2 commercial zoning district.
The planning director told council that “currently, mini warehouses are only allowed in the C 2 Zoning District as a conditional use,” and that planning staff and the planning commission had developed proposed standards after reviewing examples and the city’s comprehensive plan. The planning commission recommended removing mini warehouses entirely from the ordinance; staff presented three options: do nothing, remove the use, or allow the use with the proposed design standards.
Council discussion focused on balancing neighborhood and corridor character with property‑owner rights and the city’s limited developable land. Councilmember Betts and other members said they were reluctant to eliminate the use outright given that property owners may have relied on it; several members said that a conditional use permit (CUP) process with stronger design requirements could protect entrance corridors while preserving development flexibility. One councilmember noted concerns that stringent materials and design rules could raise construction costs and make new facilities unaffordable.
Councilors cited examples of existing self‑storage facilities just outside the city limits and said mixed‑use approaches (storage combined with other uses) might be appropriate in some locations. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
After discussion, council agreed to carry the item to the next meeting for further consideration without holding another public hearing, giving the planning commission and staff time to refine the proposed standards. The council did not adopt any ordinance language at the May 15 meeting.
Why it matters: Mini‑warehouse developments typically present single‑story buildings with many overhead doors and large, blank elevations. Councilors said design standards would shape how such facilities would appear on Lexington’s main entrance corridors along Routes 11 and 60, and that retaining a CUP requirement would allow public review of specific proposals.
Next steps: Staff will continue refining the draft use and design standards and return them to council for consideration at a future meeting so members can either adopt the standards, remove the use, or remand revisions to the planning commission.
