Planning commission recommends approval of Maury River Road self-storage special exception

The Rockbridge County Planning Commission unanimously recommended on April 8 that the Board of Supervisors approve a special exception permit for a self-storage facility on tax map 61A2-2-A-6, a 1.42-acre parcel near the intersection of North Lee Highway (Route 11) and Maury River Road (Route 39).

Staff presented the application from Renovating Rockbridge LLC and said the schematic calls for a single 21,000-square-foot building. Engineer Russ Orrison told the commission that “the site of the proposed storage business has tended to be a dumping site for trash and building materials for many years,” and noted constraints including a wide Route 11/39 right-of-way, a transmission-line easement and a large amount of fill placed during Route 11 construction.

The plan submitted to the commission shows interior climate-controlled units along with exterior-access units that are not climate controlled; the applicant said some units would be accessed from the building interior and others from exterior doors. Commissioners asked about finished-floor elevation relative to Route 11, interior ceiling height, parking and whether outdoor storage could be added later. The applicant said the lowest ceiling point would be about 9 feet and that exterior-access units would be non-climate-controlled. Staff and the county attorney said any use not included in the approved site plan would require an amendment to the special exception.

Commissioners also discussed lighting and the Tourism Corridor Overlay (TCO) Board review. Staff and counsel explained that lighting standards in Section 1300 of the Land Development Regulations apply to business districts and that building elevations and materials would be reviewed by the TCO Board for aesthetics.

The commission opened the public hearing; no one spoke, and the hearing was closed at 7:17 p.m. Commissioner Anthony Subrizi moved to recommend approval with two conditions: substantial compliance with the schematic plan prepared by Perkins and Orrison, titled, “Maury River Road Self Storage Special Exception Plan” (dated March 24, 2026); and approval contingent on the County Building Department, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Tourism Corridor Overlay Board. Commissioner Adam Sandridge seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. The application still requires final reviews and approvals by the County Building Department, VDOT and the TCO Board before any building permits could be issued.