BZA permits U‑Haul pickup site in Harbor Heights with limits on vehicles and buffer requirements

The Charlotte County Board of Zoning Appeals on Dec. 10 approved a special exception to allow a commercial vehicle rental (U‑Haul) pickup/drop‑off location at 2534 Soulstone Drive in the Harbor Heights neighborhood, restricted in phase 1 to the existing developed area and up to six vehicles.

Senior planner Elizabeth Nocek described the phased proposal. Phase 1 would use the existing paved area in front of two warehouse buildings to store and distribute up to six rental vehicles (10‑ to 26‑foot trucks, a cargo van and a pickup), with the buildings used to store supplies. Phase 2 would expand into vacant lots only after site design, stormwater and buffering can be accommodated.

Because phase 1 is constrained by existing pavement close to the property line, the applicant proposed an alternative buffer design for phase 1 (a continuous 4‑foot hedge row and a 6‑foot opaque fence) in lieu of the full Type D planting; staff said the alternative meets the code intent for the constrained area and recommended approval with conditions. Nocek stressed that the hedge must be installed and pass inspection prior to any site use under phase 1.

Applicant Nicole Macy said her moving company has local demand and that the lockbox system would allow self‑service pickups. "We thought that that would be a good opportunity for us to bring it to our community," Macy said.

The board approved the special exception with staff‑recommended conditions, including prohibition of maintenance or repairs on site, prohibition of storage of hazardous materials or heavy machinery, required buffers/hedgerows to be installed and inspected before use, limits on phase 1 vehicle counts and the three‑year term provision tied to commencement rules. The motion carried by voice vote.