Update 7/23/18 – The Brooklyn Park City Council voted unanimously last week to remove self-storage as an allowable use in its BPZs. The council also approved five new zoning districts, all within a half-mile of proposed light-rail stations. The new transit-oriented zoning will be applied to districts along the proposed Bottineau Blue Line, according to the source.

The transit-district vote was 5-2. The Bottineau rail project is currently delayed by right-of-way negotiations. Similar to their stance on BPZs, officials want development that will increase jobs and the tax base, the source reported.

7/17/18 – Brooklyn Park, Minn., officials are discussing whether to ban self-storage development from its business-park zones (BPZs). The city council conducted a first reading on June 25 of the amendment, which would remove self-storage as an allowable use and prohibit it from being included in new BPZ projects, according to the source.

The proposal is an attempt to limit the types of businesses approved to develop along Highways 169 and 610, which are within the municipality’s plans for a light-rail station area. Available land along both roadways is zoned as BPZ. Officials would prefer businesses that create more jobs than self-storage as well as have a high tax base, the source reported.

It’s not clear if self-storage developers would be able to apply for a special-use permit within BPZs if the city adopts the ordinance.

The city currently has only one self-storage facility operating within a BPZ. Public Storage Inc., a real estate investment trust, owns a property at 8517 Xylon Ave. N. If the proposal is passed, that facility would be grandfathered in as a legal, non-conforming use but be prohibited from expanding, according to the source.

The city will conduct further outreach before the council conducts a second reading and votes on the measure.

Source:
Sun Post, Second Readings of Brooklyn Park's Transit-Oriented Zoning, Public Storage Amendments Move Forward
Sun Post, Brooklyn Park City Council Approves Permit for Religious Institution, May Amend Self Storage Zoning