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Committee reviews proposal to narrow where self-storage facilities are allowed
Summary
Staff proposed removing self-storage as a conditional use in R‑1 and R‑2 and limiting self-storage to commercial districts or rezoning; supervisors raised concerns that the change could be unduly restrictive and is driven largely by aesthetic complaints in some towns.
County staff presented redline changes to Chapter 15 that would remove self-storage facilities from the R‑1 and R‑2 zoning categories (so those uses would be limited to C‑1 and C‑3 commercial districts or require rezoning). The proposal grew from recent permitting and public concerns in some towns; staff said removing the conditional-use path would make denial legally easier in the county’s view but would require property owners to pursue rezoning when they want self-storage.
Several supervisors pushed back, saying the move could prohibit legitimate small businesses in areas zoned R‑1/R‑2 and that the county should not respond to neighbors’ dislike of a building’s appearance by broadly restricting a use. “I don’t view that that’s a valid reason to not allow a business to be built,” one committee member said, urging further review and town input before a final ordinance change. Staff said design standards, setbacks, and lighting/screening requirements are being developed to address neighborhood concerns.
