A lot line adjustment was approved Monday for two Mitchell Road properties, a sign that a company is planning to move ahead soon with plans to build a new mini-storage facility.
On Jan. 16 the commission approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow construction of a 92,248-square-foot self-storage facility north of Westward-Ho Mobile Home Park on Mitchell Road.
A lot line adjustment between the two lots is necessary because a building cannot straddle a lot line. The approval merges two parcels sized at 1.38 acres apiece into one parcel totaling 2.76 acres.
Carlo Development of Van Nuys is proposing the development. The firm has been developing apartment complexes and storage facilities in California for over 40 years.
The applicant chose not to seek a lot line adjustment in January because it wanted to first see if the mini-storage facility would be approved.
Commissioner Gary Condit stated on Monday that he voted against the project, mainly because then Community Development Director Christopher Hoem stated Ceres had three to four of such facilities when Condit found 11-12. He did, however, support the merging of the lots.
In January Ian Lopuch of Smart Self Storage said his company has been building facilities since 1973 and owns 13 throughout California. He said one that opened in Turlock on Diane Drive at Fulkerth Drive was approaching full.
He said his company builds a premium quality storage facility with the best quality of appearance with upscale landscaping.
The Ceres Self Storage project at 3418 Mitchell Road will also include a 1,908 square foot two-story manager’s living quarters with a 616-square-foot two-car garage. The facility will employ two to three employees.
Ceres Senior Planner Teddie Hernandez noted in January that the proposed facility has a “unique ramp design” and designed “to allow two stories of storage units. Everything is ground level so there’s no elevator or anything and it also provides more privacy to the surrounding neighbors and for the occupants of the facility.”
An on-site storm water retention basin is also being required.
John Lopuch said the two-story design was based on the dislike of customers having to use an elevator or a flight of stairs. An earthen ramp placed in the center of two buildings allows drive-ups at multiple levels.
The facility will not be accessible 24 hours a day for security reasons and for the neighbors’ privacy. Instead, the plan is to allow gate access only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week while the office hours are proposed to be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
