Board OKs three-year temporary gravel overflow lot for Cardinal Paint during expansion

The Decatur Zoning Board of Adjustments approved a temporary-parking variance for Cardinal Paint & Powder to use a gravel overflow lot behind its Eagle Landing Business Park facility during construction of a proposed 32,000-square-foot expansion.

Planning Director Lisa Hannon told the board the temporary lot would be behind the existing building, would have roughly 50 spaces and is requested because employee parking on-site will be inaccessible during construction. "It is temporary in nature," Hannon said, and staff recommended approval with conditions, including a three-year term after which the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) would remove the gravel or Cardinal Paint would install the permanent surface required by city code.

Staff reported 10 property-owner notifications were sent and one response was received in favor; the EDC provided a letter of support. Board members asked whether the temporary gravel would trigger landscape requirements if the site later became permanent and whether three years was necessary. A board commenter who said they had participated in conversations about the project characterized the three-year term as allowing normalization of operations and time to decide between paving or leaving the site vacant.

Board members also confirmed that current required parking for the site, including the planned expansion, would be 95 spaces and that 98 spaces are currently provided (the overflow count is not included in that total). The motion to approve BOA25-0005 with the staff-recommended conditions was made by Mr. Mohammed, seconded by Mr. Chandler, and carried with all members voting in favor.

Conditions discussed included a three-year maximum for the temporary gravel surface and removal or replacement with a permanent wearing surface at the end of that term. Staff noted the temporary lot is set back from public rights-of-way and is not expected to be highly visible from Main Street.