PZ - Written Narrative UDC Text Amendment
WRITTEN NARRATIVE
UDC TEXT AMENDMENT
RESIDENTIAL STORAGE FACILITY
Ten Mile Development, LLC (Graye Wolfe), hereby applies for a UDC Text Amendment to
allow for a Residential Storage Facility within R-15 and R-40 zones with a conditional use
permit. A definition of a residential storage facility has been provided along with provisions
under the Specific Use Standards of the UDC.
The current UDC provisions allow for self-service and outside storage facilities within the
residential zones only as an accessory use to a principal permitted use. Therefore, any storage
facility approved under the accessory provision is restricted to providing storage service only for
the residents of the principally permitted development. This creates a problem for the storage
facility management to screen and police their potential lessors. If someone vacates their
residence or apartment within the principally permitted development but continues to lease a
storage unit, this creates an issue. The other concern is that high vacancy rates at a facility
cannot be remedied with allowing renters from outside the development. From a business
perspective, this creates a situation that could be detrimental to the cash flow and success of an
accessory storage facility.
The intent is to create a third type of storage facility that is smaller and integrated into residential
neighborhoods, setting standards for landscaping and architectural requirements that provide
compatibility and a complementary use to existing or proposed neighborhoods.
The proposed Ordinance Amendment is listed below along, with the of a new residential storage
facility category within Table 11-2A-2 providing for the use as conditional within the R-15 and
R-40 zones.
11-1A-1: DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:
STORAGE FACILITIES, RESIDENTIAL: Any real property designed and used for renting or
leasing individual storage spaces incidental to residential property or dwelling units, to which the
occupants thereof have access for storing or removing personal property.
11-4-3-TBD: SELF-STORAGE FACILITY, RESIDENTIAL
A. The facility is encouraged to accompany or be a component of a single-family or multi-
family residential development with a conditional use permit within an R-15 or R-40
zone.
B. The size of the storage facility shall be less than 8 acres.
C. The location of the facility may be located along an arterial roadway as a buffer to a
residential development, but shall not take direct access from an arterial.
D. Access to the facility shall be from an internal collector or local street only.
E. The hours of operation shall be limited to six o’clock (6:00) a.m. to ten o’clock (10:00)
p.m.
F. The use shall be limited to individual storage compartments which shall be used for
residential related personal property including vehicles.
G. Storage units shall not be used as dwellings or as a commercial or industrial place of
business. The manufacture or sale of any item by a tenant from or at a residential storage
facility is specifically prohibited.
H. The distance between structures shall be a minimum of twenty-five feet (25’).
I. The storage facility shall be enclosed and screened from public view.
J. A minimum twenty-foot (20’) wide landscape buffer shall be provided along a collector
or local road, twenty-five-foot (25’) adjacent to residential development or an arterial and
thirty-five-foot (35’) adjoining an entryway corridor. Landscaping shall be provided as
set forth in subsection 11-3B-9C of this title.
K. The facility shall have a second means of access for emergency purposes approved by the
Meridian Fire Department.
L. No outside storage area shall be allowed. Materials shall not be stored within the
required yards.
M. Design the building facades to express the architectural character of the residential area.
The building design shall comply with the City of Meridian Architectural Standards
Manual.
N. Any parking lot associated with the leasing office shall comply with the standards in
Section 11-3C-5, “Parking Standards for All Other Uses Not Specified,” of this title.
O. Signage for the facility shall comply with Section 11-3D-8B, “Residential Signs in
Residential Districts,” of this title.
P. On-site auctions of unclaimed items by the storage facility owners shall be allowed as a
temporary use in accord with Chapter 3, Article E, “Temporary Use Requirements,” of
this title.
Q. If the use is unattended, the standards in accord with Section 11-3A-16, “Self-Service
Uses,” of this title shall also apply.
R. No storage of fuel or hazardous materials shall be allowed (Ord 13-1555, 5-14-2013)
S. The site shall not be used as a “vehicle wrecking or junk yard” as herein defined in
Section 11-1A-1.
Add a new use to Table 11-2A-2 – Allowed Uses in the Residential Districts, as follows:
The application of the Ordinance Amendment would be appropriate within areas that are
designated for residential uses in the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map. The Comprehensive
Plan encourages a wide range of uses in close proximity to one another to reduce the number of
trips on the arterials and to provide more sustainable development. The proposed UDC text
amendment will alleviate some of the limitations of the Ordinance.
The residential storage areas should be totally surrounded by a solid masonry wall with
architectural features to provide articulation and break up the expanse of wall. Great care should
be taken to create an architectural focal point. Extensive landscaping should be provided around
the exterior and along arterial frontage. The residential storage facilities will be beneficial to
existing and future residents, providing for the storage of personal items, recreational vehicles
and extra vehicles. Signage would meet the requirements outlined in the UDC for signage within
a residential zone. Hours of operation would be from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., which would
minimize the impact on the adjoining residential development.
Use R-2 R-4 R-8 R-15 R-40
Storage facility, residential - - - C C