Hiram City Council approves rezoning for two-story self-storage facility with RV and boat parking under five stipulations

The Hiram City Council on a voice vote adopted Ordinance 2025-2 on a rezoning request by applicant Ajit M. Patel, approving a change from B-2 Highway Business to I-1 Light Industrial solely to allow a single two-story, 49,910-square-foot self-storage building with outdoor RV and boat parking at the northwest intersection of Pace Court and Pace Road in Hiram.

Council staff read five recommended stipulations attached to the rezoning. The stipulations require that access be determined during plan review; the developer provide a traffic memorandum and coordinate methodology with Paulding County Department of Transportation (Paulding DOT); the property comply with the corridor overlay district; the developer maintain the roads and infrastructure used to enter and exit the property; and that the I-1 zoning be limited to the single two-story storage facility (preventing other light-industrial uses on the parcel).

Michael Corcoran, identifying himself as the civil engineer for the client, confirmed the proposed project would be a climate-controlled two-story building and said, "There I believe there would be some roll up door units on the exterior of the building." Corcoran described typical layouts for such projects, saying premium units often have direct exterior access and that loading areas are designed to keep people out of drive aisles.

Jason (city staff) explained the fifth stipulation is embedded in the ordinance language and restricts future industrial uses: "The fifth stipulation says that this is hereby zoned as I-one Light Industrial, solely for the limited purpose of a single 2 story self storage unit, including boat and RV storage. So, what that does is that says that even though this is light industrial, if you approve it, the only light industrial use authorized is a single 2 story self storage unit with RV and boat storage. You can't do any other industrial use."

Council members discussed concerns raised in a circulated exhibit about possible spot zoning. One council member noted five existing storage facilities in Hiram were constructed before 2020 under prior zoning rules and said the city's 2022 comprehensive-plan changes now require I-1 for new storage projects. Another council member who had driven past the site said a required buffer and tree plantings in the proposal would improve aesthetics and provide sound mitigation for nearby residences along U.S. 278; the same speaker estimated the project would include "approximately 400 units" (approximate figure stated during discussion).

A motion to adopt Ordinance 2025-2, identifying the applicant as Ajit M. Patel and describing the project and the five stipulations, was made and seconded. The council chair called for a voice vote; when asked "All in favor? Any opposed?" the chair declared, "Motion passes." The transcript does not record a numerical vote tally.

Council members also raised enforcement and long-term monitoring concerns. A staff speaker named Cliff was cited as the city official who would monitor compliance; one council member noted that policing stipulations after construction requires active oversight and enforcement to prevent uses that would conflict with the limited rezoning.

The ordinance as adopted limits the parcel's I-1 classification to the single two-story self-storage facility with outdoor RV and boat parking and preserves the stipulations on future owners of the parcel.

Ending: Council moved on to subsequent agenda items following passage of the ordinance; the record shows staff will proceed with plan-review and permit steps described in the stipulations, including coordination with Paulding DOT for a traffic study.