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The BCC is now to consider the proposed LDR amendment and is to adopt, adopt with modifications, or deny the proposed amendment. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION (PZC) RECOMMENDATION: At its meeting of April 25, 2019, the PZC voted 6-0 to recommend that the BCC adopt the proposed amendment (see attachment 1). ANALYSIS Self -storage facilities, as well as general warehousing and storage facilities, are a permitted use in the CH (Heavy Commercial), IL (Light Industrial), and IG (General Industrial) zoning districts. In almost all cases, those districts are separated from residentially -zoned properties by lower intensity districts, major roadways, or other physical features. In those districts, storage facilities are regulated by general site plan requirements as well as the general County -wide 35 foot building height limitation (with the exception of the West County Industrial Park height exception which has its own special criteria). The CG' district generally allows a broad range of retail and office uses, but not warehouse/storage uses, except under special conditions. Those conditions, contained in the specific land use criteria for administrative permit uses, are intended to limit storage buildings in the CG district to self -storage facilities of a size and scale that fit within a general retail district, especially where adjacent to residential properties. Under the current LDRs, the first specific land use criterion for self -storage facilities in the CG district states, "Storage unit areas shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height from storage buildings." Staff's interpretation and application of this provision has consistently been that the intent of this criterion is to limit the overall building height for self -storage facilities in the CG district to a maximum of 15 feet. However, some interested parties have questioned if the intent was to limit the floor -to -ceiling height of individual storage units to 15 feet, but allow an overall building height of 35 feet per the maximum building height identified in the CG district and generally applied throughout the unincorporated county. The proposed LDR amendment would clarify that individual storage units shall have a maximum interior ceiling height of 15 feet, measured finished floor to fmished ceiling. The proposed amendment would also allow a graduated increase in the overall building height for self -storage facilities in the CG district, based on a separation distance (or setback) from adjacent residential lot lines. The proposed amendment maintains a 15 foot height limitation for all portions of a self -storage building that are set back less than 150 feet from a residential lot line (property line); sets a 25 foot height limitation for all portions that are set back at least 150 feet, but less than 200 feet from a residential lot line; and sets a 35 foot height limitation for all self -storage facilities that are set back more than 200 feet from a residential lot line. The result is an allowance based on a graduated increase in building height in relation to any adjacent residential property. It should be noted that the typical architectural design and aesthetic appeal of self -storage facilities has been enhanced in recent years, especially for multi -story facilities. Twenty or 30 years ago, most self -storage facilities consisted of rows of single -story "boxes" with a continuous mass of corrugated metal overhead doors. Today's designs, which are compliant with County corridor aesthetic requirements, include defined entry points with storefront glass systems, enhanced architectural 71 2