West Main SP for self‑storage and drive‑thrus to proceed to preliminary if staff conditions addressed

Planning staff reviewed a request by Restaurant Retail Properties LLC to rezone about 4.01 acres on West Main Street to a West Main Tech specific plan that would allow self‑storage and drive‑through restaurants; staff rated the application 65/100 and opposed it as written because those uses are not compatible with the district and no ancillary benefits were proposed (SEG 239-246, 283-294).

Jessica Gore of Perra Design (speaker 8) told commissioners the team revised the base zoning to CXU, held a neighborhood meeting and is willing to add foundation plantings and other landscaping language requested by staff. "We did have our neighborhood meeting... we got very favorable feedback on the elevations of the self storage," Gore said (speaker 8). Developer Bill Seeley (speaker 4) said automotive uses were removed at staff and mayor request and argued the storage elevations are professional and that a 250‑foot setback would push storage to the rear.

Commission members and staff raised concerns that self‑storage is an industrial use that can harm property values and suggested conditioning approval on a phasing plan and a contribution to the Maple Hill intersection improvements. Staff said engineering design details (turn lanes and signal modifications) remain to be worked out with the city and that a contribution should be negotiated during plan approval. The applicant requested a contribution range be discussed with staff because the precise cost is not yet known.

The commission did not adopt the SP at the meeting. Instead staff and the applicants agreed that if the applicant addresses the staff recommendations — clarifying landscaping/tree requirements, foundation plantings and whether phasing will be required, and coordinating with engineering on the Maple Hill contribution — the item can be placed on the preliminary planning commission agenda next month.