Commission adds vegetative buffer to approved expansion of Floyd’s equipment site with 236 self-storage units

The commission considered a site-plan application at 5695 Sevierville Road to expand a longstanding commercial property operated as Floyd's equipment by adding 236 10-by-20 self-storage units. Staff told the commission the business predates the county's zoning and that state statute protects expansions of preexisting nonconforming uses, but commissioners disagreed about whether the proposed use is a protected continuation or effectively a new commercial self-storage business.

Commissioner Kimsey challenged the applicant's assertion that the use is historically equivalent to a self-storage facility, noting that "there's a substantial difference between storage that is incidental or associated with an equipment sales and repair business and commercial self-storage facility containing 236 individual, rentable 10 by 20 units." Commissioners also raised access and security concerns. An amendment to require vegetative buffering (trees) was proposed, seconded and approved; the commission then voted to pass the motion as amended. Staff and commissioners indicated approvals remain subject to standard permitting and pre-construction contractor review.