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Residents say Carroll Highlands storage proposal would ‘tower’ over homes; one alleges developer campaign contributions
Summary
Residents urged the commission to tighten rules after consultants showed examples of multi‑story, large storage facilities; neighbors called the proposed Carroll Highlands building too close and too tall and one resident alleged campaign donations by storage‑industry interests.
At the Aug. 5 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting residents near the proposed Carroll Highlands storage site urged commissioners to reject or tighten controls on a multi‑story self‑storage project, citing height, proximity to homes, construction impacts, traffic and neighborhood compatibility.
Sarah Penn, who lives directly behind the proposed site, said the developer’s drawings show a structure that "just towers over my hill" and likened the massing to a cruise ship or Mordor. "It is massive," Penn said, and described loss of sunset and night‑time darkness for nearby homeowners.
Multiple speakers emphasized setbacks and buffering. Nancy Lynch cited a Bellevue, Tenn., ordinance the consultant showed that uses a 150‑foot separation from residential zones and said the Carroll Highlands plan would put an 89,000‑square‑foot building within several dozen feet of adjacent homes. Kathy Martin and other neighbors urged more coherent design standards and improved traffic access to protect residential quality of life.
Audrey Novak raised an allegation related to campaign finance: she said a "large contribution was made to a campaign fund of 1 of our commissioners by a Florida developer of the Carol Highlands storage project" and that another contribution came from a company that specializes in storage facilities. The transcript records the allegation but no direct response or factual confirmation from county officials during the meeting.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the public concern and the consultant recommended that the county refine permitted‑use categories, separate single‑story drive‑up facilities from multi‑story storage, and add stronger objective design, height, setback and buffering standards. Formal code amendment language was promised for the Aug. 18 meeting.
