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Commissioners press design changes for proposed 7‑Eleven; staff proposes zoning change to tighten self‑storage siting
Summary
An applicant proposed converting a vacant box pharmacy to a 24‑hour convenience store; commissioners flagged design and traffic concerns and asked that the building face the street. Separately staff asked to initiate a zoning text amendment to require conditional use review for some self‑storage locations to protect strategic commercial corridors.
An East Little Creek Road redevelopment and a separate zoning‑text initiative drew notable attention Aug. 14. A developer proposed to redevelop a former box pharmacy at East Little Creek Road and Halperin Drive into a 24‑hour convenience store (franchisee linked to another nearby 7‑Eleven). Staff said the proposal did not fully conform to the commercial plan book's guidance, which recommends placing the convenience store building at the corner and minimizing canopy prominence; staff and commissioners expressed concerns about traffic and the visual design if the fuel canopy or vehicle orientation dominate the corner.
"I would not vote for this unless we brought the main building out to the street like the design your parts suggested," a commissioner said, urging a corner‑facing building and signage that does not prioritize fueling over pedestrian frontage. Staff reported 12 emails opposing and one supporting the application primarily over traffic and street design; the applicant indicated the franchisee at the nearby site intends to close that location if approved.
Separately, planning staff introduced a proposed text amendment to move some self‑storage uses from permitted‑by‑right to conditional‑use status in several commercial and business districts. Economic development officials told staff that concentrations of self‑storage can reduce economic activity on strategic parcels; staff said changing the permit pathway would allow site‑specific review to assess whether a self‑storage use is the best fit.
Staff said the initiation is intended to align local permitability with economic development goals and noted that some districts already require CUPs; the proposal is to extend that site‑specific review to additional districts. Commissioners flagged the importance of tying design expectations to any permitted use and requested staff pursue form/design standards as part of the conversation.
Next steps: staff will bring the 7‑Eleven design review through the regular hearing process and will draft a text amendment initiation for self‑storage so the commission can consider formal initiation on the coming agenda.
