Locust Grove holding public hearing to add self-storage as a permitted use

The Locust Grove city council first considered permitting self storage within the C-3 zoning district in July 2018, but no action was taken on the proposal. The city will hold a second public hearing about the request on Monday, March 18, 2019 at 6 pm. If the request is approved, then properties zoned C-3 within Locust Grove city limits and that meet certain requirements could build into self-storage facilities.

The city’s proposal would permit lots less than five acres to develop into self-storage if they contain internal access units only. For lots between five and ten acres, or that request exterior access units, the property would be subject to a public hearing and conditional use permit. Further criteria depends on the property’s designation on the city’s future land use map.

City staff included within their report mention that there have been inquiries to build self-storage facilities northeast of the I-75 interchange at Bill Gardner Parkway. This would correlate to land along Marketplace Blvd.

The outcome of the proposed ordinance change also has an effect on an application for annexation at the intersection of state route 42 and Harris Drive. Zack’s Properties, the owners of 11.29 acres, applied for annexation into the city last summer but a final action was never taken on the request. Self-storage facilities, except for those that mirror class “A” office space, are prohibited within unincorporated Henry County’s highway corridor overlay, but if the property is annexed into Locust Grove, that restriction no longer applies.

It is presumed that the property would join the existing portfolio of Zack’s Self Storage locations throughout Henry County if allowed to build. Locations may be found on Bill Gardner Parkway, State Route 42 at John Williams Pkwy, and Jodeco Road.

The upcoming public hearing is to change city ordinance, not to address specific projects. The city council has to vote at a future meeting in order to annex or decline the Harris Drive property into city limits.

This article was originally published in July 2018 when the initial public hearing about the zoning change was held. The article has been updated in March 2019 to reflect the topic resurfacing.