Planning commission recommends zone change to allow RV and storage units on 4.37-acre parcel

The Kane County Planning Commission recommended that the county commission approve a zone change that would reclassify a roughly 4.37-acre parcel (partial parcel 3-5-31-21-4) from Agriculture to Manufacturing to allow RV and storage facilities.

Nick Ramsey, the applicant, told the commission the plan would proceed in stages: "Plan is to do storage, RV storage, mostly oversized, possibly other storage... Right now... noncovered to begin with and then covered and then possibly some indoor for RVs." Shannon, the county planner who presented the staff report, said manufacturing would avoid a separate conditional-use permitting step required in other zones and suggested C-2 (commercial) as an alternative if commissioners felt manufacturing was too large a jump: "If you feel like that's too big of a jump, at least maybe revert and say C-2," Shannon said, noting earlier examples of successful storage facilities in the county.

A nearby resident raised dark-sky and lighting concerns, and commissioners clarified that lighting and building standards are addressed during the building/billing permit review. Commissioner 3 recused from the item, stating he represents the seller of the parcel. Following a motion to recommend approval to the county commission based on the staff report, the commission voted by voice and the motion carried.

The recommendation will go to the Kane County Commission for a final decision.