LAKESIDE — The Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved a special-use permit to expand an existing EZE storage facility onto a 5.15-acre adjacent parcel in Lakeside, subject to conditions that include a requirement for site-appropriate, permanent fencing and a prohibition on placing mobile homes or tiny homes in storage parcels.
Kathleen, a planning staff member, described the application as a request by Ironside Engineering and Development Inc. on behalf of Somerset Investment Properties LLC (APN 212-15-002H) to add roughly 10 storage-unit buildings of varying sizes and 6-foot fencing; the site would also use some storage buildings as perimeter screening in lieu of fence in places. Kathleen said staff recommended approval subject to the conditions in the staff report.
The hearing drew no public speakers. Zach Barlow, the applicant’s agent with Ironside Engineering and Development, told the board the expanded facility would continue the existing office hours and that controlled access via key card or PIN-code would allow customers to access units outside staffed hours. Barlow summarized the intent: "The actual office operation is that 9 to 5, Monday through Saturday…so the intention would be to have those hours be the same as the existing facility."
Why this matters: the permit adapts an existing commercial storage use and sets conditions meant to address neighborhood appearance, security and the allowed types of stored property.
Board conditions and clarifications adopted in the motion:
- Fencing: Supervisors required a permanent, decorative or site-appropriate perimeter treatment rather than simple chain-link with slats; staff will confirm details in final permitting.
- Hours and access: The board accepted that the office would be staffed roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Saturday, while recognizing secured customer access (key card/PIN) allows entry outside staffed hours.
- Use restrictions: The board imposed a condition prohibiting the placement or continual occupancy of mobile homes or tiny homes on the storage parcel (RV and boat storage as permitted by the staff report remain allowed unless otherwise restricted by the permit conditions).
Action: Supervisor Seymour moved approval subject to the staff conditions plus the decorative-fence and residential-use restrictions; a second was recorded and the motion passed unanimously.