Valley County approves final development plan for Alpine Storage on Samson Trail

Valley County commissioners on March 2 approved the final development plan for Alpine Storage, a proposed 2.81-acre self-storage development at 450 South Samson Trail, with conditions tied to right-of-way and a development agreement.

Staff reopened the afternoon session after a brief recording hiccup and summarized the permit history for UD2302 and related applications, saying the project has entitlements, was considered by McCall area planning bodies and the Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission, and was recommended for approval pending typical conditions. The plan calls for 34 self-storage units in two buildings (31.7% lot coverage); staff listed required submittals such as final engineering, a revised geotechnical report, septic permitting, FAA Form 7460‑1, and a road mitigation agreement or dedication of right-of-way prior to building permits.

Abby Germaine, representing the applicant, said the project originally proposed three buildings but was revised to two—reducing the footprint and increasing setbacks to open view corridors—and that the application was reviewed under McCall City Code criteria because of the city’s prior administration of the area of impact.

Commissioners and staff focused the discussion on traffic and sight-distance issues at the proposed Samson Trail access. The applicant said it had provided a revised traffic analysis accounting for slope and winter conditions and relocated the entrance to improve sight lines; designer Jeff Hatch said unit depths were kept shallow to reduce long-vehicle conflicts. County engineering and road staff asked that the walking path be placed outside the proposed 35-foot right-of-way and confirmed that, if moved, the pathway relocation and any associated landscaping adjustments would be paid by the developer and coordinated through a development agreement.

A commissioner moved to approve the final development plan (PUD23‑02, CUP23‑11, DR23‑28, SR23‑18) for Alpine Storage at 450 South Samson Trail with the change to the right-of-way and trail and to document details in a development agreement. The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor; no roll-call tally was read on the record. Legal staff will finalize findings of fact and conclusions consistent with the approval and the listed conditions.

The approval allows the applicants to proceed to the final steps required before building permits can be issued, including the agreed road/right-of-way measures and any required final engineering approvals.