A vote on a proposed three-story CubeSmart self-storage facility at the intersection of 13th Avenue Southwest and Collier Boulevard near Golden Gate City was postponed Tuesday after more than two hours of discussion and public comment.
The 5.5-acre land zoned for estates is adjacent to two Florida Power & Light substations, which applicant Shamrock Builders Inc. deemed unsuitable for residential properties. The developers are seeking to amend the county’s growth management plan to allow the land to be used only for self storage.
Access to the facility will be off of Collier Boulevard to avoid extra traffic for residents on 13th Avenue. The street, which is a public school bus stop, will have parking for parents to wait in their cars at the cost of the applicant.
“We will be constructing this robust stop and waiting area on our property, so that there will be a safe place for children and their parents to wait for the school bus,” land-use attorney Noel Davies said.
Since the project went in front of the Collier County Planning Commission in May, the developer reduced the square footage of the project by 3,500 square feet to a total of 171,000 by eliminating the proposed office building closest to 13th Avenue. The separation from the residential street is now 148 feet, and Shamrock Builders agreed to implement enhanced landscape buffers on the west, north and south sides of the properties, along with adding a preserve for more green space and a water management lake.
“One of the least intense commercial uses is self storage,” Davies said. “This will have very minimal impacts on the surrounding area, all of which have been reduced even further by the concessions … outlined.”
Those who appeared for public comment voiced opposition to the project, citing safety concerns about break-ins, fires and children waiting at the bus stop.
Richard Lagarde was a voice for residents of 13th Avenue who are against the project. “Where’s the need for the residents of Golden Gate Estates? Most of us have two and a half or five acre lots with storage buildings. We don’t need this self storage,” he said.
In Collier County, there are more than 800,000 square feet combined of self storage permitted, under construction or in the application process.
“Every CubeSmart in Collier County is offering discounts and free rent. That to me is a sign of oversupply,” Lagarde said.
Commissioner Burt Saunders asked Davies if Shamrock Builders would be open to further reducing square footage of the facility.
“I personally don’t think that this fits into the neighborhood. I’m not sure that any of this really complies with the comprehensive plan, but if we can get around that, this is still too large,” Saunders said.
Commissioner Chris Hall said the proposed location is a good spot for a storage facility, just not one that large.
After talking with his client, Davies requested a continuance of the vote and agreed to bring back a plan that includes a reduction in building size. Since the project requires an amendment of the county’s growth management plan, a vote of 4-1 or better is required for the project to pass. The project will be brought back to the board Dec. 12.
