A proposed storage unit complex is again in the middle of a battle between the City of McCall and Valley County over appropriate uses for county land around the city.
On Tuesday, the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission revisited design plans that it voted to deny nearly a year ago for the Alpine Storage Condos at 450 South Samson Trail.
That denial, however, included a recommendation to deny an associated conditional use permit needed to operate the storage complex. That decision rested with Valley County Commissioners because the proposal is in the McCall Impact Area, which is county land that is administered under zoning rules that closely resemble those in place within city limits.
The county commissioners initially denied the permit and agreed with the P&Z’s recommendation but then overturned that decision and approved the permit after Echanis filed a reconsideration. The reversal stemmed from new information that alleviated traffic concerns initially held by the county.
The approval means that the storage complex’s design, which the P&Z denied outright last March, is now back for approval. Meanwhile, the land use is already authorized by the county.
‘Brand new application’
“Just treat it like a brand new application,” City Attorney Bill Nichols told the commissioners. “That’s the best way to put it.”
Plans call for three buildings containing 37 storage condos to be built on 2.8 acres along South Samson Trail near Krahn Lane.
The P&Z tabled a decision on design applications associated with the project on Tuesday amid missing information that could influence the design, including information related to groundwater levels and the location of two septic systems on the site.
“We know groundwater is an issue in this area, and that can affect things quite a bit,” P&Z Chairman Robert Lyons said.
The commissioners also requested new project renderings that better show what it would look like from South Samson Trail—a designated scenic route subject to stricter aesthetic design standards.
“Where I’m really kind of hung up is that I don’t know what this will look like from Samson Trail,” Commissioner Liz Rock said.
Echanis was represented at Tuesday’s hearing by Boise attorney Abbey Germaine, who urged commissioners to approve the application during Monday’s meeting.
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Germaine emphasized that the plans would come back before the P&Z for review if the design changed significantly due to groundwater data and septic system locations.
“If it is not approved tonight, this developer is going to miss another (construction) season, that is not feasible,” she said.
“I understand Mr. Echanis’ desire to get building this year, but it’s also his responsibility to bring us an application that’s complete,” P&Z commissioner Dave Petty said.
Public hearing continued
A public hearing on the design applications is set to continue at the P&Z’s March 4 meeting.
Five people opposed the project at Tuesday night’s public hearing, most of whom cited concerns about the aesthetics of the storage complex and said it would not be compatible with the neighborhood.
That included Dan Goodman of Morrow and Fisher, a Nampa law firm representing Joe Baugh and Kim Apperson, who live across from where the storage units would be built.
Goodman framed the information missing from the application as “fatal flaws” and said approving the design without the data would be “premature.”
“Make the applicant get you exactly what you need to make a clear decision,” Goodman said.
Storage wars
The compatibility of storage complexes with surrounding properties is a common point of contention between the McCall P&Z and the county commissioners.
In January, the commissioners approved an expansion of Stor-It Self Storage on Elo Road despite multiple recommendations for denial by the P&Z, as Valley Lookout reported.
The disagreements come as the city and county prepare to negotiate new boundaries for the McCall Impact Area ahead of a Dec. 31, 2025, deadline prescribed by a new state law.
The county commissioners have telegraphed plans to shrink the impact area south of McCall, citing criteria under the new law that cannot be met by current boundaries.
A joint meeting between the McCall City Council and the county commissioners is set for March 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to continue impact area negotiations.
