National 360 LLC, on behalf of the property owner, Berkeley Point Associates LLC, submitted applications to the City of Duluth to obtain approval for a modified rezoning of 15.99 acres of property located at 2641 North Berkeley Lake Road NW for the development and construction of a mixed-use, non-residential development consisting of the conversion of the existing 137,823 square feet, 7-story unfinished building to a climate-controlled indoor self-storage, 96,000 square feet of additional mini-warehouse storage, and 71,000 square feet of flex office/industrial space.
With recommendations of approval by City Planners and the Planning Commission, the Duluth City Council voted to approve the modified Planned Unit Development rezoning request during their December 13, 2021, regular meeting.
A mixture of uses surrounds the site. The site is bound to the north by a railroad spur. Across the trigger are two properties zoned M-2 (Heavy Industrial District) and Gwinnett County M-2 (Heavy Industrial District). The site is bound to the east by a large single-story warehouse/distribution building zoned PUD. The site is bound to the south by North Berkeley Lake Road. Across North, Berkeley Lake Road is a multi-tenant single-story office/warehouse building zoned PUD. Finally, the property is bound to the west by two-story commercial/office buildings zoned PUD.
According to City documents, the site is within an approved 2007 Master Concept Plan containing a seven-story hotel connected to the existing seven-story office building. Behind the proposed hotel is a four-story parking garage. In front of the existing office building shows two 32,500 square foot office/retail buildings and associated surface parking.
The property contains the shell of a seven-story building and portions of the associated parking, partially constructed in 2008. However, the building was never completed and was deemed unsafe by the City of Duluth Building Official in 2020. The building was then placed on the City’s blighted property list in 2021.
The approved Master Concept Plan shows the entire site being developed in three phases. Phase I is located at the rear of the site and contains the existing seven-story building and 40,400 square feet of mini-warehouse storage buildings. Access to the mini-warehouse buildings is regulated via access control gates and fences. Phase II is also located at the rear of the site and contains mini-warehouse storage buildings. Phase II also includes an outdoor parking area intended to store boats, recreational vehicles, utility trailers, semi-truck tractor storage, and similar items parked for safekeeping. Access to Phase II is also controlled via access gates and fences. Phase III of the Master Concept Plan contains four flex office/industrial buildings and associated parking. The four buildings total approximately 71,000 square feet. The buildings are proposed to include office/warehouse/industrial uses.
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16 acres… almost completely paved. We are still ruining and wasting land.