The climate-controlled facility, which is part of a larger commercial development centered around the roundabout, was developed by Carlson, Brigance, and Doering. The design of the facility is intended to appear similar to an office building, without any exterior doors and with units only being accessible from interior hallways.
The overview
Directly north of the facility, at 1800 Highlands Blvd., will be a commercial lot with several businesses and a drive-through coffee shop included in preliminary plans. The storage facility will be constructed around the same time as the commercial lot, said Ben Gonzales with Legend Communities, who presented as the applicant at the meeting.
At a previous ZAPCO meeting, where the facility was recommended for approval, six public comments were shared opposing the facility, said Erin Carr, director of building and development services.
At the following City Council meeting Nov. 18, the council heard from developers of the project as well as two additional residents who voiced disagreement with the facility.
Concerns cited by residents included increased traffic and associated safety concerns for children in the neighborhood, as well as light pollution.
What they’re saying
Lakeway resident Tom Madison said that although he appreciated the building’s design, he had some concerns regarding lighting and traffic.
“I think that entrance off Highlands [Boulevard] is going to create problems,” Madison said. “It’s just not in the right spot. If it was down Bee Creek Road, I think that would be a lot better and it wouldn’t interfere with the traffic, especially all of the middle school kids going right down there—you see them all the time.”
Council member Christopher Forton responded to Madison’s lighting concerns and stated that the development will be subject to the city’s dark sky ordinances. Forton said those ordinances had been in place for the past year, and all buildings going forward will be subject to them, in order to minimize light overflow.
As for traffic concerns, council member Kelly Brynteson said that the city does not expect this facility to generate much activity. With this type of facility, traffic is normally limited to customers who need to access their units once or twice a year at most, Brynteson said.
What else?
Renderings and more details about both the storage facility and commercial center are included in the Nov. 18 staff report.
