Bryan Council adopts zoning rules splitting indoor and outdoor self‑storage; annexation approved

The Bryan City Council on Tuesday approved a zoning text amendment to Bryan Code Chapter 130 that defines indoor and outdoor self‑storage uses and establishes design standards for those facilities, and it also approved an owner‑requested annexation, case ANAnnex23‑07.

The measure, presented by Martin Zimmerman, Director of Development Services, separates self‑storage into two land‑use definitions and proposes specific standards intended to protect neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Zimmerman said the amendment would keep indoor and outdoor storage permitted in C‑3 and industrial districts, with indoor and outdoor storage allowed in retail districts only by conditional use permit to allow additional review.

"We felt it was a good idea to differentiate between indoor and outdoor storage uses because there are different components to them," Martin Zimmerman said, describing the change.

Under the standards Zimmerman described, an indoor facility would be required to have at least 60 percent masonry on exterior facades and limit glass on any facade to a maximum of 25 percent. Proposed regulations for outdoor storage include a requirement that entrances to individual units not face the public right‑of‑way, a six‑foot fence along shared lot lines with other properties, an increased driveway throat depth to provide stacking room for vehicles and trailers, and a roof pitch requirement for outdoor components.

Councilor Cindy Salvato asked whether the retail‑district allowance for self‑storage would remain a conditional use; Zimmerman confirmed the conditional‑use review option remains for retail districts. Councilman Michael Edge asked whether the new rules would affect currently operating storage facilities; Zimmerman said existing facilities would remain legal nonconforming (grandfathered) if the new standards applied.

There were no members of the public signed to speak on the text amendment at the public hearing. After discussion, a motion to approve the ordinance amendment carried.

Votes at a glance

• ANAnnex23‑07 (owner requested annexation): approved (motion carried; vote tally not specified in the record). The annexation pertained to 51.59 acres described as part of the James McMillan abstract located north of Pleasant Hill and Fred Hall Road in Bryan's ETJ.

• Ordinance amending Bryan Code Chapter 130 (self‑storage definitions and supplemental regulations): approved (motion carried; vote tally not specified).

• Consent agenda: approved unanimously.

The staff presentation and the council discussion indicate the change is intended to give staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission clearer rules to review future self‑storage developments and to allow conditional‑use review in retail areas. The ordinance text in the council packet includes the standards described above; the adopted ordinance number and effective date were not specified during the meeting.