City approves Fish Camp Road self‑storage site plan with waivers after resident objections

The City Commission approved Resolution 25‑47, a site plan with waivers for a self‑storage facility and outdoor shed sales on about 4.63 acres at 36640 South Fish Camp Road, after staff and applicants described proposed mitigation and a nearby resident raised concerns about impacts on adjacent homes.

Kyle Welch, Development Services, said the proposal includes three mini‑warehouse buildings (29,760 square feet total), RV and boat storage in the interior, an office of about 1,200 square feet and an outdoor shed sales area facing County Road 44. The applicant requested four waivers: a substitution of understory for canopy trees where utilities conflict, a waiver to allow insulated metal‑sided buildings facing the road, a reduction of the primary structure setback (the code allows a maximum 75‑foot primary‑structure setback for commercial lots), and a waiver of frontage build‑out and transparency (fenestration) requirements for the buildings along County Road 44.

Staff recommended approval and described the site as MCR (mixed commercial/residential) with a suburban corridor design district. Tanner Calabaugh, representing the Novaks, said the office would sit about 125 feet from County Road 44 (roughly 50 feet beyond the 75‑foot standard as proposed on the concept plan) and that the storage buildings are single story. He told commissioners the applicants will provide a six‑foot masonry wall along the north property line adjacent to a residence, a landscape buffer and a swale to reduce visual and noise impacts.

A nearby resident, speaking for neighbors on Meadowside Drive, told the commission there is already another storage facility in the corridor and asked the city to consider whether additional storage and shed sales were the best long‑term use for the corridor as residential development increases. She said a masonry wall and maintained landscaping helped but warned about future neglect: “Landscaping is great until it's not. And then it becomes... vacant, nothing, and people dumping stuff.”

Applicant Adam Novak said the business operates LarkSheds in Leesburg and said the company keeps properties presentable; he and John Cook (project manager) told the commission there will be gates and a photometric plan to limit light spill to neighbors. Commissioners discussed corridor planning and the long‑term image the city wants for County Road 44, and one commissioner urged staff to consider the corridor’s future mix of uses as housing develops nearby.

The resolution passed on roll call after discussion; commissioners asked staff and the applicant to continue outreach to the adjacent property owner and to minimize lighting and noise impacts through building and site design.