A new self-storage project proposed for West Chester Township, Ohio, has stirred debate between local residents and the board of trustees. Lakota Self Storage would be built on 8.5 acres at 7686 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, but residents are concerned that 1.8 acres set aside for green space will eventually be developed unless a provision is added to specifically prohibit it.

The storage developer must first win approval to rezone the property to commercial. The land is currently zoned for agricultural, light industrial and suburban residential uses.

The area set aside for green space borders the residential neighborhood. Under the current zoning proposal, it could be developed in the future if the township and county governments were to approve a new zoning plan. Residents prefer that the green space remain as a buffer between the neighborhood and commercial development.

“What kind of excavation would it take to overcome that elevation change to be able to develop this 1.8 acres?” resident Gary Roberts asked during a recent hearing. “We would like to see this 1.8 acres remain a green space so we can at least maintain some site of wooded area and some type of small nature preserve from the back of our house.”

If built, Lakota Self Storage would contain three storage buildings comprising approximately 63,000 square feet. The property would also include a 6,000-square-foot office building, a 2,100-square-foot leasing office and outdoor vehicle storage. The property has been home to a variety of industrial uses including concrete-pipe storage, road-construction staging and skid manufacturing, according to the source.

The board of trustees is expected to vote on the zoning proposal on Feb. 10.

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