The Gallatin City Council unanimously approved second reading April 15 of an ordinance rezoning a parcel for a proposed condominium-style vehicle and specialty-storage development known to the developer as Sand Creek Preston Park.

Councilman Juvan introduced ordinance O2407-33, which rezones the site to the PGC (Plan General Commercial) district and authorizes an amended preliminary master development plan. The measure passed on second reading without recorded opposition.

Residents and several council members pressed the developer on noise, enforcement and proximity to homes. A number of council members said earlier opposition from neighbors had been reduced after the developer personally contacted many nearby property owners and presented changes to address concerns.

Andy Leith of Greenlee Design and developer Armando Estrada of Sand Creek Partners described the project as primarily an owner-occupied storage-condominium product marketed to owners of collector cars, RVs and boats. Estrada told council members the developer had gone door-to-door to solicit input and had secured signed support from the homeowners association and from previously vocal neighbors. “We'll memorialize in our documents that any compressor work or excessive noise, but definitely compressor work, the doors will have to be down,” Estrada said.

Council members asked about unit counts and building dimensions. The developer said the project is currently planned for about 70 units; unit footprints start a little under 800 square feet and the buildings have tall clearances (developer described roughly 20-foot ceilings with approximately 14-foot garage doors to permit RVs and lifts). Leith and Estrada said the interior units are intended to be climate-controlled and that a homeowners association and recorded covenants were submitted for staff review.

Concern remained about how noise or after-hours work would be enforced; city staff said covenants and HOA enforcement are private tools and that the city's code enforcement tools are limited to the municipal code. The developer said he would provide signage, an HOA enforcement mechanism, and individual contact information and that the developer would actively enforce rules during the first two years of occupancy.

Council discussion referenced traffic and light impacts as reasons some neighbors favored the storage-condo option over walk-up retail. After additional council exchanges about notice and outreach, the motion for second reading passed unanimously.

The ordinance and its amended preliminary master development plan will be reflected on the city's official zoning atlas.