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Planning commission recommends denial of proposed 120K sq ft self‑storage complex
Summary
The Planning Commission voted 9–0 to recommend denial of a special-use permit and rezoning to allow a 119,900 sq ft climate-controlled self-storage complex at 10753 Hickory Flat Highway, citing scale, character-area mismatch, traffic and proximity to the Little River floodplain and buffers.
The Cherokee County Planning Commission on a 9–0 vote recommended denial of a rezoning/special‑use request that would have allowed a large climate‑controlled self‑storage complex at 10753 Hickory Flat Highway.
Staff presented case 20Six‑one‑two, which covered approximately 22 acres with about 6.02 acres proposed for commercial use. The applicant proposed four storage buildings — including a three‑story façade fronting the highway — totaling roughly 119,900 square feet. Staff noted the site contains floodplain and is adjacent to the Little River, which requires a 150‑foot stream bank buffer, and recommended careful review of stormwater and tree-protection requirements as part of any land‑disturbance permit.
Barry Dunlop, the civil engineer for Paradigm Engineering, described a design that uses the steep topography to "bury" much of the building into the hillside so the rear of the structure reads as a single story. Dunlop said the project would include two stormwater detention facilities, a gated access system, and septic for the residential portion of the property; he also said GDOT raised no objection to the proposed driveway location but that a GDOT encroachment permit would be required before county land‑disturbance permits.
Neighbors who live nearby urged denial. Sharon Martin told commissioners the storage project is incompatible with the adjacent River Lake Landing residential neighborhood, raised environmental concerns and asked that the parcel return to residential use. Darryl Bryant, who lives directly adjacent to the property, cited safety and traffic concerns at the nearby curve on State Route 140 and said the area’s natural character would be damaged.
Commissioners said the three‑story massing and the scale of the proposal conflict with the Corridor and Nodes/suburban character areas and could reduce future residential potential. One commissioner observed there are already multiple storage facilities within a mile and a half, and several members said adding another large storage complex at this visible county entry would be an unfavorable use.
A motion to recommend denial carried 9–0. The planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for consideration; staff said any future applicant would still need to meet Cherokee County’s stormwater, tree-protection and LDP requirements if they pursue alternate proposals.
