Storage bond approved; commission presses developer on lighting facing residences

The Planning Commission recommended City Council approve a bond initiation for the Tom Fair Self Storage project while reiterating prior preliminary‑plan conditions intended to reduce light spill into adjacent residential areas.

Staff presented a consolidated bond amount of $1,519,818.82 for performance and land‑disturbance coverage and noted that the preliminary plan approval carried two site conditions: a double‑row staggered landscaping buffer and a reduction in wall‑pack lighting facing residential uses. "The lighting placed on the walls which face or front onto residential uses shall be reduced by 0.5," staff said, explaining the intent is to cut the number of wall‑mounted fixtures or their coverage so light impact on nearby homes is decreased.

The applicant’s representative said the owner was concerned that removing lighting entirely would create unsafe dark zones inside the storage layout and offered to explore alternative fixtures and shielding. Staff clarified that bond initiation and final plan approval are separate: the commission can recommend the bond, but the final plan and building permits will not be released until the lighting and landscaping conditions on the preliminary plan are satisfied.

Commissioners voted to recommend the bond initiation while directing staff to withhold final plan sign‑off until lighting and buffer conditions meet the preliminary‑plan requirements.