Sharp & Associates LLC, a Minnesota-based commercial real estate developer and property-management company, received permission this week from the Anoka City Council to expand an existing building and erect three additional structures for a new self-storage facility on Bunker Lake Boulevard in Anoka, Minn. The project required special-use permits for self-storage and the construction of additional buildings on the property.

The existing building was built in 1973 and was most recently owned by Egan Oil. The lot has been vacant for several years. The current structure will be expanded and used for heated storage units, according to owner Dennis Sharp. The project will also include the construction of two 3,400-square-foot buildings and an 8,000-square-foot structure.

Sharp said he also plans to have an outdoor storage area that will be used as a temporary staging facility. Council members expressed some concern about having customer belongings visible for long periods of time and stressed the approval for the self-storage facility did not include permanent outdoor storage. Sharp said ivy will be planted along a fence to limit visibility.

This is another property that is located within our industrial park and another person that is investing significant improvement to the property and to the area, said Mayor Phil Rice. With many people living in apartments and smaller homes, storage facilities are a necessity. This is a service to the community.

Sharp & Associates currently operates Ramsey Mini Storage and Ramsey Boat & RV Storage in the nearby communities of Ramsey and Elk River, Minn., respectively. The company and its affiliates offer a full range of construction services including design/build, commercial/industrial, general contracting, construction management, specialized contracting and commercial-property leasing.

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