Rezoning sought for boat/RV storage facility

4:05 p.m. June 4, 2025

Rezoning sought for boat-RV storage facility

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Rodney Ervin appeared before the Metro Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday night to start the process of rezoning a 2.34-acre lot near Jiffy Mart along Highway 55 for proposed commercial use.

Ervin and Brett Fanning are considering plans to develop the land into a boat and RV storage facility. However, before proceeding, Ervin requested guidance from planning officials on how to navigate the rezoning process and whether submitting a site plan based on the maximum potential use of the land would be advisable.

“We’ve got an idea for the layout, but we’re still unsure about the exact size of the units we’d need,” the property owner said. “We might not need 40-foot slips if 30-footers are in higher demand. We want to plan it right before committing to the engineering and construction costs.”

The board assured Ervin and Fanning that the process would start with a rezoning request to the Metro Council. After the lot is rezoned, a detailed site plan will be necessary before a building permit can be issued. They advised the pair to collaborate with an engineer to establish the maximum number of storage slips the lot could accommodate, based on current setback and utility easement requirements.

“I’d max out the lot with what the setbacks allow,” Board chairman Dexter Golden advised. “That way, you get as much as possible approved upfront, even if you scale back later.”

Ervin expressed concern about committing to commercial zoning – and its associated tax burden – without knowing whether the proposed use would ultimately be approved. “I don't want to pay commercial taxes and then turn around and find out I can't build what I intended,” he said.

The board stated that there was nothing in the proposal that seemed problematic and encouraged Ervin and Fanning to move forward.

Ervin and Fanning were advised to reach out to the planning office for official setback information and to start preparing the necessary documents, including an updated survey with a Metro Council signature block.

Pending approval from the Metro Council on the second reading in July, the owner could return to the Planning and Zoning Commission in August with a finalized site plan for review and potential permit issuance.