Alderman Bonney: The City Council voted to approve a special‑use permit for a proposed indoor residential self‑storage facility on Columbia Parkway after public comment and extensive debate over land use, donations tied to the project and neighborhood impacts.

Why it matters: The proposal drew multiple public speakers and aldermen who said the project exemplifies a broader conflict about whether self‑storage belongs in commercial corridors and how donations from developers affect local decision making.

Public comment: Susan Singh, a resident who spoke during public comment, opposed the project and said the area is already saturated with storage facilities. “There are already seven storage facilities in that area…You’re gonna come to a point where it’s over saturation,” Singh said. Robert Pace urged the council to reconsider a previous committee recommendation, calling developer donations akin to “payola” and warning that charitable gifts tied to development approvals create an unfair environment for smaller businesses.

Council debate: Alderman Bonnie, who spoke at length opposing the project, criticized the developer’s outreach and the role of donations, saying in council remarks that the use “smacks…of corporate elitism” and calling the charitable gifts “sickening.” Alderman Bell and other council members argued the site sits amid industrial and commercial uses and that the project would add property tax revenue and jobs, while Alderman Durkee asked staff to consider decommissioning bonds for similar land‑consuming developments in the future.

Outcome and next steps: The code and regulation ordinance for the special use permit (item 1) passed on the council floor with a recorded outcome of 9 ayes and 3 nos. The legal director was instructed to prepare the appropriate ordinance. Several aldermen said they will pursue code changes to restrict self‑storage in certain commercial zoning districts at a future committee meeting.

Context: Council discussion referenced a prior Code and Regulation Committee recommendation and similar measures in other cities that have enacted moratoria or zoning changes to limit self‑storage in commercial corridors.

Community impact: Alderman Bonney and public speakers emphasized concerns about aesthetics, neighborhood compatibility and limited job creation tied to self‑storage; proponents emphasized that redevelopment can turn vacant parcels into taxable property.