Commission recommends special-use permit for Highlands storage facility despite resident safety and traffic concerns

The Zoning Advisory and Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council approve a special-use permit for a climate-controlled storage facility at 1900 Highlands Boulevard, finding the application meets the three conditions set out in the Highlands development agreement: architecture/landscaping, internal access to individual units and design that minimizes sight lines from surrounding roadways.

Planning staff explained the property is designated commercial and that, per the development agreement restated in 2021, the commission’s review is limited to the three specified conditions rather than the broader nuisance or neighborhood-compatibility concerns. ‘‘The development agreement clearly states that the storage facility proposed is subject to only these conditions,’’ staff said, explaining why the commission was applying the agreement standards rather than the general SUP ordinance.

Residents who live near the site told the commission they opposed the permit. Brian Chapman said the emergency access cut-through near the ball fields was intended for emergency vehicles and warned that frequent truck movements could create safety risks for children and interfere with emergency response. ‘‘It was put there for emergency vehicles to get in and out from the ball field… Not for trucks to come load and unload and remove the traffic from the roundabout,’’ Chapman said.

Thomas (Tom) Madison and Stephanie Chapman echoed safety and character concerns, citing nearby schools, a daycare and frequent recreational use of the area. The applicant’s representative (Mr. Dallet) said the design will screen the storage building with retail frontage and that truck loading would be handled from a separate access point on the property’s backside. ‘‘Yes. Yes. There'll be a access point for the trucks to come in on the backside where there's a separate elevator,’’ the applicant’s representative said during Q&A.

Commissioners said traffic and exact access configurations are matters for site development and engineering review; those details will be negotiated at permit/engineering stages if council approves the SUP. A motion to recommend council approval passed with five in favor, one opposed and one abstention; one commissioner recorded that they were not allowed to oppose and therefore abstained. The item now advances to City Council for final action.