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Commission approves new 1-story self-storage building on Aspen Street; lot-line adjustment required
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a use permit Sept. 4 for a one-story, 36-unit self-storage building at an existing Aspen Street facility; the project requires a lot-line adjustment and removal of seven trees, staff said.
The Lake Forest City Planning Commission on Sept. 4 approved a use permit to add a one-story self-storage building with 36 units at an existing Aspen Street storage facility, subject to conditions including an engineering-approved lot-line adjustment before permits are issued.
Jennifer Mansour, senior planner, described the site as an existing five-building, single-story storage facility built in the 1980s and accessed from Aspen via an easement. Mansour said the new building will be at the rear of the property, not visible from public view, and will match the colors and materials of existing buildings. She told commissioners the project will remove seven trees and about 8,000 square feet of landscaping on a rear slope and will add four new trees, 15 shrubs and ground cover to the site.
The project also requires a retaining wall along the north elevation with a maximum wall height of 12.5 feet; Mansour said the combined visual profile from the rear with the wall and the building measures about 24.5 feet but noted the zoning district allows building heights up to 65 feet. Mansour said, "A condition of approval is included in the resolution requiring that this lot line adjustment be approved by our engineering division prior to issuance of permits for this project."
Parking and access Staff said the facility currently has only eight parking stalls for the entire site. The proposal includes an 8-foot-wide loading area in front of the new building and four additional parking stalls adjacent to it. Mansour said the design accommodates Orange County Fire Authority vehicle requirements while providing adequate loading width for customers.
Commission action and context The vice chair closed the public hearing after no public comments were received. A motion to approve the use permit as recommended by staff was seconded and approved unanimously; the clerk recorded that the motion "passes unanimously with Chair Ludden absent." No conditions beyond those recommended by staff were added at the hearing.
Clarifying details and next steps - Lot-line adjustment: required and must be approved by the city engineering division before building permits are issued. - Landscaping: removal of seven trees and roughly 8,000 square feet of rear slope landscaping; replacement plantings to be installed per the approval. - Retaining wall: maximum north-elevation retaining-wall height 12.5 feet; combined wall-plus-building rear elevation described as approximately 24.5 feet and visible only from the Los Alizos water recycling plant side.
Staff indicated it will coordinate permit clearances after the engineering review and proceed toward building permits once conditions are satisfied.
