Planning commission approves FTMA Crescent Drive storage garage with conditions; recommends special-exception to Zoning Board

Assistant Manager Brandon Stanick presented the FTMA storage garage proposal at the Jan. 27 meeting, reporting a 1,920-square-foot garage with four storage bays proposed on a 3.22-acre parcel at Crescent Drive and US Route 30. Stanick summarized plan revisions requested by the commission, including perimeter bufferyard plantings, removal of storage bays from one plan iteration, a paved driveway connection to Crescent Drive, and underground electrical service.

Staff noted multiple requested zoning and subdivision modifications, including bufferyard type and width, allowing 100% of parking in front of the building, permitting an unpaved site, allowing the parking edge closer than 10 feet to the building, and not requiring marked or appropriately sized spaces.

Rob Horvat of KLH said an infiltration trench was added at the rear of the building to manage runoff. Jason Orsini, FTMA general manager, explained that the FTMA Board considers the required landscaping excessive and proposed a reduced bufferyard because an existing six-foot, 75%-opaque privacy fence is already in place; he also stated that the building is permitted in the Village District.

After a lengthy discussion focusing on the type and location of bufferyards and the appropriateness of the public-service building in the Village District, Rade Opacic moved to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the tentative and final land-development plans with specified modifications and with conditions that the township engineer’s stormwater comments and items in the staff review letter dated Jan. 23, 2026 be addressed. John Thomas seconded. The vote by roll call was: Tim Cook No; Ken Faux No; John Thomas Yes; Rade Opacic Yes; Ernie Leopold Yes. The motion passed 3-2.

Separately, the commission reviewed the FTMA Crescent Road storage garage as a request for a Special Exception to the Zoning Hearing Board (a Public Service Garage in the Village Zoning District). Staff concluded the proposal complies with the special-exception standards. Rade Opacic moved and Ken Faux seconded that the commission recommend approval to the Zoning Hearing Board with the condition that the commission’s recommended bufferyard be installed; the motion passed unanimously.

The commission’s tentative/final land-development recommendation and the special-exception recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors and the Zoning Hearing Board respectively; both approvals include conditions and technical review by township engineering and staff.