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DRC says chipping operations may not be permitted at LaPierre Industrial site on Amelia Island
Summary
County planners told an applicant Jan. 14 that the proposed outdoor chipping of trees on a Russell Road industrial parcel is not a permitted use in the Industrial Warehouse zoning category; staff also flagged floodplain, open-space, landscaping and parking requirements for any future development.
The Nassau County Development Review Committee reviewed a pre-application on Jan. 14 for outdoor wood storage and periodic chipping at a small industrial parcel on Russell Road, Amelia Island, and planning staff advised that chipping of trees outdoors is not a permitted use in the Industrial Warehouse (IW) zoning district.
Applicant representative Asa (Asa) Gillette described a proposal to store logs and tree stumps and bring chipping equipment to the site three to four times a year, at which times material would be chipped and hauled to a mill. The applicant said there would be no buildings or permanent restrooms and that temporary portable sanitation would be brought on-site as needed for chipping operations.
Elizabeth Back of the Planning Department said outdoor storage is permitted in IW, but “the chipping of trees outdoors is not a permitted use in IW.” She directed the applicant to Article 20 of the Land Development Code for setback and dimension standards and reminded him that the property’s floodplain location would require a 60% open-space percentage. Back also cited perimeter landscape strip and minimum landscaped-area requirements in LDC section 37.05 and the requirement that at least 10% of the site be planted per LDC 37.05C.
Building and development services staff said the vacant parcel would require Development Review Committee review as a Class 2 project if the applicant pursues development, and they reiterated standard requirements for commercial driveways, frontage sidewalks and drainage calculations. Constance Lake (Building Department) and Caleb Hurst (Development Services) emphasized that the applicant would need to show flood-hazard boundaries on plans consistent with FEMA mapping and county floodplain code.
Environmental Health and Fire representatives raised standard operational concerns: Environmental Health had no additional comment but reminded the applicant to meet setbacks for wells; Fire asked that site access and the proximity of hydrants be resolved and that the site be accessible to apparatus if operations or buildings are later added.
No formal action was taken; staff provided technical direction and said a DRC submittal would be required for any development that included driveways or other improvements.
