The San Bernardino Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve Conditional Use Permit 23-13 for a three-story, 97,705-square-foot self-storage facility on a 1.74-acre parcel on the north side of West Highland Avenue.

Senior planner Shantel Choice described the project as compliant with zoning and development standards and said the facility will operate within hours restricted by the city when adjacent to residential districts (7 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday). The proposal includes a 38-foot building height permitted because the site abuts the 210 freeway, 11 parking stalls (one ADA), shared access drives, and perimeter landscaping and walls.

Applicant representatives Ben Jones (Store and Lock), Spencer Hall (ownership/Lee & Associates), and architect Carlos Vargas answered questions. Jones described Store and Lock’s regional experience and noted the company currently has no location in San Bernardino. Hall and Rick Lazar (owner representative) described years of marketing efforts for the irregular lot and said retail users had declined because of limited visibility and shared access; they said a self-storage operator offered a viable, higher-quality design.

Speakers in opposition said the Sixth Ward already contains a high concentration of storage facilities. Public commenter Dolores Armstead presented a count she said showed more than 30% of the city’s storage units are in the Sixth Ward and argued the parcel would be better used for housing or other community-serving development.

Commissioner Garcia requested the applicant reconsider tree species along the narrow landscape strip adjacent to the single-family neighbor; the architect said root barriers and an appropriate palette would be provided in construction documents and the applicant agreed to a condition to substitute smaller trees if warranted. Staff said the project would meet the city’s landscape and setback requirements.

After discussion the commission approved the CUP and the CEQA determination. A condition was added for the applicant to work with staff on selecting lower‑growing species for the landscape buffer adjacent to the neighboring house.

Votes at a glance: the motion to approve the CEQA exemption and CUP 23-13 passed unanimously (Chair Sherrick — yes; Vice Chair Quill — yes; Commissioner Daley — yes; Commissioner Ivan Garcia — yes; Commissioner Galandi — yes).