Zoning Measure Would Restrict Self-Storage Developments to 4-Acre Sites in Anne Arundel County, MD

The Anne Arundel County, Md., Council will vote on legislation this week that would require self-storage businesses to be developed on a minimum of 4 acres instead of 2. The measure was introduced by council chair Jerry Walker, who doesn’t believe the county’s C2 commercial designation is the right fit for self-storage. “It’s more of a retail-type zone,” Walker told the source. “[Self-storage], to me, that isn’t retail.”

The bill would preserve parcels zoned C2 for businesses that hire more people, according to Walker. “[Self-storage facilities] don’t create a lot of jobs,” he said. “Other businesses would create more jobs.”

The bill was last debated on July 6, when some supporters argued the limitation of land in commercial zones would help independent self-storage operators by preventing larger companies from buying up available property, the source reported.

The measure was strongly opposed by councilmember Derek Fink, who argued it would shut out businesses. “We knock out any potential and future competition, which is ludicrous,” he said. “It is very questionable legislation.”

The county executive’s office is also opposed to the proposal. “It is anti-competition,” said Owen McEvoy, public information officer. “It makes it harder to find plots of land.”

The council is scheduled to vote on the legislation on Monday night.

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