Property owner asks council for help to allow outdoor storage behind West Main self‑storage; council directs reapplication to planning and zoning

Ken (referred to as Ken/Ted in the meeting), who identified himself as owner of the property at 530 West Main Street where Kidspace day care and an indoor self‑storage facility operate, asked council for help to permit outside storage in the rear of his lot.

The owner said he purchased the property about three years ago and invested in paving and building improvements; indoor storage alone has not attracted enough demand and he asked council to consider a zoning change (from B‑1 to M‑1 or similar), a variance, or a text amendment to allow outdoor storage behind the existing buildings.

Council members said the issue belongs first with the Planning & Zoning Commission. Several officials noted that the owner had previously presented to zoning and that the commission had voted against the request in the past; one council member who also sits on Planning & Zoning said she had favored allowing the change but was in the minority. City staff instructed the owner to reapply to Planning & Zoning for either a variance or a formal zoning change. A planning member and police representatives voiced support for the owner pointing to improvements to the property since purchase; the owner said he will provide keypad access to police for the storage area to allow monitoring.

No ordinance or zoning change was made at the council meeting; the council advised the owner to pursue Planning & Zoning next and staff will guide him on the application route (variance vs. zone change).