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Planning board approves Desert Sand commercial pre-development plans with fire-safety conditions
Summary
The board approved a preliminary large-scale development permit allowing replacement of two chicken houses with commercial buildings and conversion to commercial flex space, subject to Wheeler Fire Department and other standard planning conditions.
The Washington County Planning Board on Feb. 13 approved a preliminary large-scale development (pre-LSD) application for the Desert Sand commercial project, which replaces two existing chicken houses with a 15,800-square-foot metal commercial building and an additional roughly 20,000-square-foot steel structure for commercial flex space.
Sam, planning staff, said the conditional use permit for the site had previously been approved (noted in staff materials as approved July 11 and ratified Aug. 15) and that this pre-LSD clears plans for construction sequencing and code compliance before the applicant submits a final large-scale development application. Planning staff reported one neighbor comment raising concerns about increased traffic and compatibility with surrounding residential areas.
The applicant and engineer were present; James Girth of EDA said the applicant anticipates renters such as carpenters and woodworkers that would store large equipment. The applicant estimated hours of operation as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some potential after-hours work. Staff materials list an estimated total of about 79 gravel parking spaces and roughly 5,100 square feet of an associated paved area; planning staff characterized those figures as applicant estimates and included them in the condition set.
Wheeler Fire Department conditions are part of the approval package. The board discussed gated access and key/code requirements; the applicant indicated the use of a Knox Box and agreement to provide emergency access information to the fire department. The pre-LSD approval is conditioned on meeting fire, electrical and life-safety requirements and on final administrative review before issuing final permits.
The board approved the pre-LSD by voice vote after discussion and confirmation from the applicant that the project team had coordinated with the fire department and had life-safety plans prepared by an architect. The applicant will return with the final large-scale development application after satisfying the conditions outlined by staff and the fire marshal.
