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Board postpones volleyball facility parking variance after neighbor complaints about overflow
Summary
The Cherokee County board postponed a request from a volleyball training facility to reduce required parking from 67 to 18 spaces after an adjacent property owner reported repeated overflow that blocked tenant access; the board asked the applicant to return with a parking-management plan and projections for tournament days.
A Cherokee County planning staff presentation described a variance request for 523 and 525 Industrial Drive to reduce required parking for a new 13,300-square-foot indoor volleyball facility from 67 spaces to 18, citing existing striping and shared spaces with 521. Planning staff said Article 12 of the zoning ordinance requires 1 space per 200 sq ft for commercial indoor recreation and that the change-of-use triggered the parking review.
Courtney Kimura, who said she and a business partner purchased the property and operate as 575 Volleyball, told the board the facility primarily serves youth aged 8–18 and holds practices in the evenings and tournaments on Saturdays. Kimura said the business has invested in lighting, HVAC, and other improvements, that they lease and share parking with adjacent properties, and that they encourage carpooling.
An immediate neighbor, Ramsey (Ramzi) Kanso/Cancel, said he owns the building across the street and provided photos showing cars blocking garage openings and obstructing truck access. He said the volleyball parents, not tenant employees, routinely use his lot and that the overflow has interfered with deliveries and tenant access. Kimura acknowledged earlier problems, said she and the property manager had exchanged emails and posted signs, and said the situation has improved in recent months.
Board members said they supported the use but were not convinced a parking-management plan was in place. One board member moved to approve the variance, but the motion died for lack of a second. The board then voted to postpone the decision so the applicant could return with a plan projecting parking demand at full tournament capacity, proposed mitigation (shuttles, valet, signage, or off-site parking agreements), and lease or signed dedication of the 39–55 shared spaces the applicant described. The motion to postpone carried 4–1; the transcript records Mr. Rex del as opposed. The board directed staff to schedule the decision for the April meeting if the applicant submits materials in advance.
The board did not adopt any conditions tonight; the postponement means no permit will be released until the variance is decided at the next meeting and staff has presented the applicant’s additional documentation.
