First it was Mayor DeBlazio supporting no self storage development in the Industrial Business Zones in New York. Next came the moratorium in Florida prohibiting self storage development along Highway 41. And most recently, there was an announcement of a 150 day moratorium on self storage development along the Beltline corridor in Atlanta.
So what’s wrong with self storage?
Supporters of the DeBlazio legislation in New York say it would help the growth of manufacturing by restricting self storage building in these development zones. If the legislation passes, self storage developers would need a special permit to build in these IBZ areas. In Florida, the year-long ban on self storage development along a seven mile stretch in Naples, Collier County, Florida was passed based on the belief that these restrictions would help spur construction of new shops and restaurants that county leaders contend are needed in the area. In the City of Atlanta, commissioners imposed a 150 day moratorium on new projects along the new Beltline project after a local developer obtained a permit to build a 120,000-square-foot storage facility in South Buckhead. The commissioners argued that “Storage-facility uses are incompatible with the purposes and intent of the Beltline.”
Obviously, proponents of self storage emphasize the importance of the storage service which is made available to area individuals and small businesses. Supporters further promote the benefit of increasing the tax base while not imposing burdens on parking, sewer or other infrastructure requirements that typically are affected by multi-family building or other retail services.
Whatever the argument, this shift by area planners has a negative impact not only on future developers in the industry, but sheds an unfavorable light on the industry itself.
So, who’s next?