The Crown Point, Ind., City Council last week denied a zoning request for a self-storage facility to be built on a former used-car lot, which is located in a flood plain. Doug Gossage of BBG Properties requested a variance to construct Castle/Big Vault Storage on the Carroll Chevrolet property at 1800 N. Main St., just north of Beaver Dam Ditch. The site is owned by Second Life Resale Shoppe, according to the source.

Gossage’s plan includes 150 self-storage containers that would be elevated to avoid flooding. The site would also be enclosed by a fence and feature an 8-foot-tall concrete wall along Main Street, the source reported.

During the zoning meeting, Jack Huls, a project manager at DVG Inc. and an engineer on the project, noted Second Life pays significant flood insurance on the property, and the site has limited uses due to its location. It’s currently a “sea of asphalt,” consisting of dilapidated fencing and guardrails, Huls said. "We feel this would be the best use for that parcel. We feel it’s an economic benefit for everyone involved.”

The city’s board of zoning appeals voted 3-1 against the storage project during its Dec. 27 meeting, stating the facility wouldn’t complement the Main Street corridor and storage is better suited to industrial zones. In addition, members said the concrete wall would be unattractive and wouldn’t provide an adequate screen.

Councilman Bob Clemons called the corridor a “gateway” to the city. "I can't see putting [self-storage] out there. I would go along with the [board of zoning appeals].” Councilman Scott Evorik agreed, noting the council was seeking projects that would upgrade the corridor.

Gossage, who owns two Big Vault Portable Storage & Moving locations in Crown Point and Dyer, Ind., disagreed. The facility would be more aesthetically pleasing and have less of an impact on the area than other uses, such as a used-car lot featuring “a bunch of different-colored vehicles parked in different directions,” he said. Following the vote, Gossage said he’ll next propose a used-car lot for the parcel, the source reported.

Big Vault provides mobile storage to communities in South Chicago. The company delivers the unit to a residence or business, where it’s filled, then picks up the container for storage.

Sources: