The New Hope, Minn., City Council recently approved a zoning change that limits self-storage development to business-warehouse districts and restricts facilities from commercial and industrial zones. The move was made to encourage uses in commercial and industrial areas that generate more jobs. The new ordinance went into effect immediately, according to the source.

“What we are seeing is a loss of employment opportunities,” councilmember Jonathan London told fellow members during the meeting. “I think if we were to look and see the number of employees that work at these [self-storage] buildings, it’s very few. It’s a fraction of what used to occupy these buildings.”

There are currently eight self-storage facilities in New Hope.

Other cities in Minnesota have gone so far as to place a moratorium on self-storage development. Coon rapids enacted a six-month ban in March 2019 and voted to extend it in August, only to turn around and repeal it in December. City officials instead adopted an amendment to better control where storage facilities are built.

Source:
CCX Media, New Hope Votes to Limit Self-Storage Development