Planning Commission to study zoning amendment for self storage facilities

Posted at 2:59 pm May 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The developer of Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 25, 2019, said it has an “immediate opportunity” for a climate-controlled self storage facility at the 58-acre site. Examples of what these types of facilities look like were presented to the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission by Brett Rogers, construction director for RealtyLink, the developer.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will study a potential zoning text amendment for self storage facilities this evening (Thursday, May 23).

The text amendment is being considered after a developer, RealtyLink, proposed a climate-controlled self storage facility at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The self storage facility, which is not currently allowed under the type of zoning in place at the site, could be along Rutgers Avenue. It could be three stories, with a maximum height of 35 feet. It could have about the same “footprint” as Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Brett Rogers, RealtyLink construction director, told planning commissioners last month that a market study showed high demand for this type of facility. It would have internal elevators and minimal parking, and it would be very attractive and have a minimal impact, Rogers said. RealtyLink has an “immediate opportunity” for the self storage facility, said Rogers, who showed examples of two similar facilities in Knoxville and one each in Hardin Valley and Farragut.

If developed and approved, a zoning text amendment could allow an indoor self storage facility in a type of zoning district known as UB-2, Unified General Business Districts. That type of use was removed from that type of district in 2015. It’s not an allowed use now.

The Planning Commission’s policy work session is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room at 200 South Tulane Avenue.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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