Staff previews Gustafson large accessory building request in Fort Valley area; commissioners raise color and visual impact concerns

County staff presented CP 25‑14, the Gustafson request for an accessory structure over 3,000 square feet in Fort Valley (RR‑2 zoning). The proposed building is a 50×100 metal structure (roughly 5,000 sq ft), 20 feet tall, proposed on a two‑acre parcel near Highway 180 in a rural residential area.

Staff said the size triggers a conditional use permit in the RR‑2 zone and described the building as an engineered metal kit with sample color swatches provided by the applicant. Staff noted minimal expected visual impacts and that no public opposition had been received at the time of the study session. Commissioners asked whether the commission can condition building color; staff replied color could be conditioned if the commission ties color to a demonstrable neighborhood impact under CUP findings. Several commissioners requested that staff provide photographs of surrounding properties and the broader context so the commission could assess visual compatibility at the public hearing.

Commissioners discussed that Fort Valley commercial design standards would call for earth tones for commercial DRO, but this accessory structure is in residential zone and is reviewed as a CUP. Commissioners suggested discussing available manufacturer color options with the applicant prior to the hearing and indicated a preference for colors that blend with the surrounding ecology.

Why this matters: Large accessory metal buildings can have visual impacts in rural residential areas; commissioners want context photos and applicant color options to evaluate compatibility as part of CUP findings.

Next steps: Staff will prepare a public hearing packet with additional site photos and the applicant's color options for commissioners and the public to review.