Commission approves LDO amendments to regulate personal‑vehicle storage facilities in Business Park zoning

The Planning Commission on Oct. 28 approved amendments to the Leawood Development Ordinance to add a new definition and rules for ‘‘personal‑vehicle storage facilities’’ (Case PC 94‑25). The amendments restrict the use to the BP (planned Business Park) zoning district and make it allowable only by special‑use permit. The commission discussed and refined language about occupancy, parking, and compliance with fire‑safety codes.

Staff explained the intent: to create a framework for climate‑controlled, indoor units used to store and display vehicles — and potentially other personal assets such as boats or RVs — while preventing conversion of the units into living quarters or commercial repair/sales operations. Michelle Crick said the draft language requires indoor storage only, controlled access and a prohibition on human living quarters in any vehicle storage unit; she and commissioners agreed to prefer the explicit term “living quarters” (an existing defined term) in place of the broader phrase “human occupancy.”

Staff recommended a modest parking standard for the Business Park to allow limited visitor parking — staff proposed one parking space per 10,000 square feet of facility area to provide 10–15 spillover spaces on a typical site — because the BP district currently has no explicit parking ratios. Commissioners clarified that hazardous‑materials storage and flammable liquids will remain governed by the fire code, so the LDO did not create a separate hazardous‑materials regime for these facilities.

Commissioner Black moved to approve the ordinance amendments as adjusted in the meeting (terminology refined from “luxury car” to “personal vehicle,” and living‑quarters language tightened). The motion passed unanimously.