Hammond board unanimously approves $20 million RV, boat and self‑storage complex at 3518 Sheffield Avenue

The Hammond Advisory Board of Zoning Appeals on Feb. 24 unanimously approved a series of conditional‑use permits and developmental variances allowing Storage Dev Hammond LLC to build a large RV, boat and self‑storage complex at 3518 Sheffield Avenue.

The board voted 5–0 to approve the RV/boat conditional use (case Z‑25‑22 A) and companion variances for side‑yard and front‑setback reductions and related self‑storage variances after hearing a presentation from attorney Scott Yani and developer Amit Patel. The project covers about 21 acres and, as presented, would include solar‑panel canopies with space for roughly 311 canopy parking stalls, a climate‑controlled, three‑story self‑storage building, a wash bay and dump station, a customer lounge, and recreational areas.

The project team described it as “a significant investment,” estimating roughly $20 million and “about a 100 construction jobs” during development. The petitioner and staff said specialists carried out soil testing on the historically disturbed site and that planned construction would include capping and engineering controls to limit exposure and protect groundwater and adjacent wetlands.

City staff recommended approval of the conditional use and variances with conditions. The staff report required, among other measures, conservation of the two delineated wetlands on the site (about 7.5 acres, per the staff memo), installation and maintenance of appropriate driving and parking surfaces, recording of commitment documents limiting certain I‑1 uses and the storage of specified hazardous materials, and compliance with specified Hammond City Code chapters addressing litter, junk and public‑nuisance enforcement.

Supporters at the meeting included a local council member, who said the developer exceeded required environmental testing and that the plan would bring investment to a previously blighted property. The board asked detailed operational questions about the dump station (sewage handling), how contaminated soils would be capped or otherwise managed, stormwater detention and whether detention overflows would be treated before discharge to wetlands. Staff and the petitioner said the design and permit processes will address water quality and treatment requirements.

The board also approved a cluster of related Z‑25‑23 petitions for the climate‑controlled self‑storage component — variances for building acreage (petitioner sought 4.64 acres vs. a 3‑acre ordinance limit), height (three stories, up to ~38 ft vs. 15 ft allowed), building footprint over 10,000 sq ft, masonry exceptions, and a signage variance (petitioner requested ~191.5 sq ft for one wall sign; staff conditioned wall sign face no greater than 200 sq ft). Each of those votes was recorded 5–0.

The approvals include binding conditions the board required: recording covenants or commitment documents that limit what can be stored, conservation of the two delineated wetlands, engineered stormwater controls that meet Clean Water Act‑related requirements, and final technical review and approvals of all building and site plans by city staff.

Construction timing was discussed briefly; the petitioner said site work and permitting could start in late summer, with concrete and major construction anticipated after engineering and permitting are complete.

What happens next: staff and the petitioner must finalize technical plans, engineering, and the commitment documents required by the approvals before building permits issue. The approvals permit the project to move into detailed design and permitting phases; any material changes to the approved plans would require returning to the board.