Following the approval of a conditional-use permit by the Green Planning and Zoning Commission Feb. 18, a project at the corner of South Main Street and Magua Drive to bring storage units and office/retail can begin to move forward.
The project does still require approval of a variance for a setback by the Green Board of Zoning Appeals, which will be the next step.
The 6.98-acre property, located at 3929 S. Main St., is owned by SELU Holdings LLC and is vacant except for the abandoned facility at the corner that once housed the Main Street Pier drive-in.
According to the plans, a two-phase development is being proposed, with storage units to be constructed in the rear of the property as a part of Phase 1 and retail/office space along the frontage of the site as part of Phase 2.
Steve Rector, who has owned the property for approximately eight years, said he was close to securing a Winking Lizard restaurant for the property but then the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. He said he has reached out to a variety of businesses trying to attract someone to the site, but has been unsuccessful.
The project includes the construction of five self-storage buildings arranged parallel to South Main Street with a total of 232 units. Two of the buildings would be heated storage and the size of the units would range from 5 feet by 10 feet to 14 feet by 45 feet. The easternmost building would feature the largest units designed to accommodate boats and recreational vehicles. No outdoor storage is being proposed as a part of the project, and hours of operation would be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The other portion of the project is the construction of two side-by-side retail/office tenant buildings 5,150 square feet each, along with an 800-square-foot retail or possible coffee shop facility at the corner. Rector said he has a letter of intent for an operator of the coffee shop.
Several modifications have been made to the project since it was originally presented, including mounds that face north for additional screening, adding a sidewalk in front of the project and lowering the light poles from 20 feet to 15 feet.
Residents in attendance at the planning and zoning meeting primarily opposed the project, stating storage units are not a good fit for the property. Several other residents spoke in favor of the project suggesting it would have low impact on the surrounding area.
“I don’t want to take any more trees down than I have to,” Rector said, adding he wants to be a good neighbor.
Since the project was approved, Rector said he received some interest from possible tenants for the front building, which will house three to five tenants. He is hopeful that construction of both phases may be able to occur at the same time.
“We hope to be the pivot point of that area and drive more business and people to it,” Rector said.
Construction is expected to begin between spring and fall, he added.
