The site map of the proposed storage unit structures at 10350 N. U.S. 31 in Redding Township.
Submitted map
BROWNSTOWN — The Jackson County Plan Commission has given a favorable recommendation to applicant Jason Long’s request for a special exception to operate a commercial self-storage business at 10350 N. U.S. 31 in Redding Township.
That approval to operate the business in an area zoned for general business came during a plan commission meeting Tuesday night at the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown.
Long’s petition to the county office of planning and zoning calls for the construction of three different sized units: 20-by-130 feet, 20-by-110 feet and 15-by-120 feet.
Long told plan commissioners he has owned other businesses and properties in the past, but storage units are a new venture for him.
He said the three storage buildings will contain 73 units that consist of 5-by-10 feet, 10-by-10 feet and 10-by-15. There also will be a gate around the property that is keypad activated. In addition to security, he plans to install floodlights around and inside the property.
Currently, Long said he does not plan to have an office on the property, but there will be a storage shed used for utility purposes and security equipment. The property will be mostly gravel with some paved areas, such as the storage units with metal framing for the structures of the storage buildings.
Boats, motorhomes and recreational vehicles will not be stored there. The property currently shares an entrance to a neighboring home instead of an entrance off of U.S. 31.
While the application will be passed on to the Jackson County Board of Zoning Appeals with a favorable recommendation, there was some concern with the logistics of the operation in regard to entrances and water runoff points.
An initial motion to pass Long’s request with a favorable recommendation on to the BZA died for a lack of a second. After additional discussions, however, a second motion to give it a favorable recommendation passed.
Some of the plan commissioners said they had concerns with the shared entrance with a neighboring home because of an anticipated increase in traffic. They recommended to Long that a direct entrance off of U.S. 31 might be appropriate for his operation.
The BZA has the final decision over zoning requests for special exceptions but may take the plan commission’s recommendation into consideration.
Even though the plan commission passed the petition along with a favorable recommendation, Building Commissioner Conner Barnette will bring comments and concerns from the board to the BZA public hearing.
The BZA will receive all information that night of the hearing at 7:30 p.m. April 11 at the Jackson County Courthouse for a discussion of final approval of the operation with special conditions.
The public is welcome to come with any questions or concerns during the public hearing.