The request of Phillip Holderman of Beavercreek, OH for a Variance of Use to allow the construction of 10 storage units at 11975 Plymouth Goshen Trail was denied by the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals.
Wednesday evening Bernie Feeney from Wighteman Associates, a local surveying company, presented the request. The site plan showed 10 buildings said to be 100 feet long and 30 feet wide on the east end of the property and a single-family home on the west end of the property.
The letter included with the request said the project fits into the city’s comprehensive plan because the plan shows business and light industrial on the property. Feeney said the setbacks from the adjoining residential property owners exceed the city’s requirement. He also said there would be significant landscaping surrounding the storage units along with a metal fence that would be 6 to 8 feet tall.
The proposal said they would have regular business hours of operation and not be open 24/7. There would also be a manager on site.
During the public hearing, 7 neighbors who live in the immediate area spoke against the project. Their concerns included the impact on property values, traffic, security lighting impacting their properties, water run-off, and what the U.S. 30 project might be in the future with the prospect of it becoming a freeway.
Plymouth Plan Commission member Brandon Richie said he’s experienced a storage facility operating, being sold, and turned into a scrap yard. He also said the neighbors have no say about who will be renting the units and the types of things that may be stored in the units.
Board member Mark Gidley made the motion to deny the Variance of Use and said it was due to the impact on residential property values of the neighbors, the additional traffic, lighting impacting the neighbors, and concerns with additional water runoff with the additional hard surface. The motion was seconded by Brandon Richie and boat members Paul Wendel, Art Jacobs, and Alan Selge voted no to the request.
