01/22/2013 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Currently, county regulations treat stand-alone outdoor vehicle lots as a warehousing and storage type use that is limited to the zoning districts that allow warehouse and storage facilities (CH, IL, and IG). The reason for that is that, like warehouse and storage uses, outdoor storage lots can involve heavy equipment storage and semi-trailer traffic. Unlike warehouse and storage uses,mini- storage (aka self-service storage) facilities are generally accessed by personal vehicles. Consequently, mini-storage businesses are allowed in the CL (special exception) and CG (administrative permit) districts as specially-regulated uses where size and scale are limited and Type `B" buffers are required. In the CG district, mini-storage sites are allowed to include accessory outdoor vehicle storage, if buffered. In the CL district,however,all forms of outdoor vehicle storage,even as an accessory use, are prohibited under current regulations (see attachment #2). That prohibition is based on the county's experience with vehicle storage yards in the CH, IL, and IG districts. Those yards often provide storage for heavy equipment and have the appearance of a construction yard. Consequently, the existing prohibition of vehicle storage yards(lots)in the CL district is based on the premise that typical outdoor storage lots which include storage of heavy construction vehicles and semi-trailers are not compatible with the aesthetic character of residential neighborhoods,especially single-family areas. Thus, the existing prohibition is intended to protect single-family residential areas from a potentially incompatible use. Currently, county regulations provide general protections for residential areas by requiring a Type "B" buffer with a 6' opaque feature between a single-family use/zoning district and a CL or CG ... development of any kind. Between a multi-family use/zoning district and a CL or CG development, a Type "C" buffer with 6' opaque feature is required. Therefore, significant buffers are required between all forms of CL and CG development and adjacent residential areas (see attachment#3). • Regulations of Other Local Governments To determine how other cities and counties regulate typical outdoor vehicle storage lots, staff surveyed various local governments(see attachment#4). Of all responding jurisdictions surveyed, none allow stand alone or accessory outdoor vehicle storage in light or limited commercial zoning districts, while all jurisdictions allow outdoor vehicle storage as a stand-alone or accessory use in industrial and general commercial/business districts. In addition, survey results show that most jurisdictions have specific buffer requirements for outdoor vehicle storage. In a few jurisdictions, special criteria,including a prohibition on vehicle sales and repair,apply to outdoor vehicle storage. In summary,Indian River County's existing outdoor vehicle storage lot regulations that prohibit that use in the CL district are consistent with the regulations of the other jurisdictions surveyed. None of the jurisdictions surveyed, however, had regulations for a "restricted" type of outdoor vehicle storage lot,such as a lot where storage of heavy construction vehicles and semi-trailers is prohibited. • Board Determination At its October 23rd meeting,the Board reviewed staff's analysis along with a list of potential criteria for stand-alone vehicle storage lots in the CL and CG districts. That list included 6 criteria for NOW special buffering and light shielding requirements,together with prohibitions on the storage of heavy equipment and semi-trailers, as well as a prohibition on activities such as vehicle sales and repairs (see attachment#4). After considering staff's analysis,the Board determined that, when carefully FACommunity Development\Users\CurDev\BCC\2013 BCC\OutdoorStoragereportl-22-13.doc 3 80