Hammond BZA approves StorageDEV Hammond LLC boat/RV and self-storage project at 3518 Sheffield Avenue
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Summary
The Hammond City Board of Zoning Appeals approved a conditional use and multiple developmental variances for StorageDEV Hammond LLC’s 21-acre boat and RV storage complex at 3518 Sheffield Avenue, including canopy-covered parking with solar panels and a separate climate-controlled storage building; approvals were subject to wetlands conservation, recorded commitment documents and other conditions.
The Hammond City Board of Zoning Appeals on a unanimous vote approved a conditional use permit and related developmental variances for StorageDEV Hammond LLC’s proposed boat and RV storage complex at 3518 Sheffield Avenue.
Attorney Scott Yaney, speaking for the petitioner, said the 21-acre project includes canopy-covered RV and boat parking with solar collector panels, a wash bay and dump station, a family lounge, a dog park and a three-story climate-controlled storage building. Yaney told the board the development represents an estimated $20,000,000 investment and could create about 100 construction jobs during the build-out.
Staff recommended approval of the conditional use (Z-25-22(a)) conditioned on the companion variances (Z-25-22(b) and (c)) and a set of requirements including installation and maintenance of appropriate driving and parking surfaces, conservation of two delineated wetlands (approximately 7.5 acres), court-recorded commitment documents limiting certain I-1 uses, and compliance with listed Hammond City code chapters. The board voted by roll call on the staff findings and the conditional-use motion; each roll call recorded five ayes, zero nays.
The board also considered five developmental variance petitions for the climate-controlled self-storage component (Z-25-23 a–e). Those requests included occupying 4.64 acres where three acres is the ordinance limit for the use, increasing a height limit (from 15 feet and single story to up to 38 feet and three stories), exceeding the per-building 10,000 square-foot footprint limit, deviations from a masonry-construction requirement, and a sign-area variance (requesting about 191.5 square feet for a wall sign). Yaney and the petitioner said the self-storage buildings are sited toward the rear of the property near railroad right-of-way to limit visual impacts; the signage request is intended to aid wayfinding on a large site. City staff recommended approval for each variance subject to conditions tied to the companion approvals and the wetland conservation and commitment documents. Each variance passed by roll call (5–0).
City staff and the petitioner described environmental testing and planned site controls for areas of historically disturbed soil on the property, including capping and detention measures. Staff indicated it had reviewed the test results and proposed capping/detention plans and included technical-review conditions in the approvals. Councilman Mark Kalwinski, speaking during the public-comment period, said the developer “exceeded the requirements” asked by city environmental staff and expressed support for the project.
Staff clarified sign conditions in the record, including limiting wall-sign face area for the approved wall sign (staff indicated a cap of 200 square feet to accommodate the petitioner’s requested 191.5-square-foot sign) and prohibiting moving or flashing displays. The approvals require recording commitment documents that will limit the range of permitted I‑1 uses on the parcel and list items prohibited from storage.
The petitioner said construction is expected to start in August or September following final design and permitting. The BZA’s approvals are conditioned on the staff-recommended technical reviews, the recording of commitment documents and compliance with the specified Hammond City code sections.
Next steps for the project include completing engineering and permitting and recording the conditions required by the staff report; the petitioner will return to staff for any required technical sign-offs before site work begins.
