A measure that would attempt to restrict self-storage facilities to industrially zoned areas of Rockford is headed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The zoning amendment proposed by Ald. Mark Bonne, D-14, to place limits on self-storage facility locations comes amid recent debates over granting special-use permits for such facilities in commercially zoned areas of the city.
It’s an amendment designed to limit the options of developers proposing self-storage. They would be forced to propose them in industrial zones only, apply for a planned unit development in another zone or seek to have the zoning of an area changed to industrial. They could no longer apply for a special-use permit in a commercial zone.
Rockford City Council last year denied a special use permit that would have turned a former K-Mart on 15 acres at East State Street and Mulford Road into self storage with a park, open space and retail outlets. But the council in June granted a special use permit for construction of a self-storage facility in the 5800 block of Columbia Parkway.
Aldermen on July 7 voted 8-6 to overrule a committee that had recommended denial of the self-storage restrictions, sending the matter to the ZBA.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Proposal would limit self-storage facilities in parts of Rockford
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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