Relief for Collectible Car Storage May Be on Horizon

Men and women who have been seeking possible relief for storing their motorized machines, such as collectible cars and weekend toys, may see relief on the horizon. 

Earlier in March, the Planning Board gave a thumbs up for the ability to utilize storage in the C3 District as a “Conditional Use.”  Allowing such usage for storage of personal vehicles and only personal vehicles and applying the “Conditional Usage” provision gives wide discretionary oversight by city planners, the Planning Board, and eventually City Council in requiring certain requirements when approving the Site Development Plans for the respective properties in regard to usage, landscaping, lighting and times of operations. 

The Planning Board had approved the change in the Land Development Code, and just last week the city council gave initial approval on the first reading of the ordinance when it came before them by a 7-0 vote. Staff believes the modernization of storage facilities has changed to where they are less intense and can be planned for in some of the City’s less intense zoning districts. These facilities are only allowed in the Heavy Commercial (C-5) District. It will be returned in a second reading and possible adoption at the April 8 meeting of council.

There has been one such potential petition which is presently in the offing that would be located between the NAPA store on South Barfield Drive and the Marco Island Florist facility, which is just south of the NAPA building on South Barfield, should such a change be approved. It is anticipated that project may soon come before planning staff and eventually the Planning Board for Review.

The artist renderings and plans are preliminary in nature and should plans come before the city these may differ in some minor ways but will regardless conform to the city’s requirements. One of the provisions that is a requirement within the verbiage passed by council and planning requires no doors to be facing the streets or other rights of way and no overnight sleeping provisions to be allowed.