Lancaster City Council on Nov. 25 adopted an ordinance rezoning part of the parcel at 1031 Dillardville Road from C‑3 (Regional Commercial) to Central Manufacturing, clearing the way for a multistory self‑storage facility and adding new zoning text to permit self‑storage larger than 20,000 square feet under defined conditions.

The council action followed a public hearing and presentations from planning staff and the applicant. Betsy Logan, planning bureau chief, told council the two‑part amendment would add a use category and design standards for self‑storage, remove self‑storage as a special exception in R‑3/R‑4 residential districts, and allow larger facilities by right in the Central Manufacturing (CM) district on lots of 3 to 5 acres that do not have direct access to a public street. "These site criteria restrictions ... restrict self storage facilities from being built throughout the city," Logan said, noting additional requirements such as climate control, a minimum two stories, buffering and screening of garage doors, security fencing and paved service areas.

Attorney Claudia Shank, representing the applicant (1031 Dillardville Road LP, an Oak Tree affiliate), described the site as a roughly 2.5‑acre unit accessed by an easement rather than directly from Dillardville Road and said the project aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan. "We think this is a logical extension of the Centimeters zoning district to the north," Shank said, citing the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the amendment with changes.

Bill Swornick of David Miller Associates walked council through a concept plan showing a roughly 200‑by‑200‑foot building and described the use as having low trip generation with public sewer and water service and stormwater infiltration measures proposed. Melissa Stiles of Storage Asset Management presented market data showing national square feet per capita of about 7.76 versus 1.14 in Lancaster City, and said local prices were rising, indicating unmet demand.

Councilors voted to pass Administration Bill 14‑20‑25, the ordinance that rezones the specified parcel and permits self‑storage without size restrictions in CM on qualifying lots; the ordinance takes effect 20 days after adoption. The ordinance also adds design standards for buildings greater than 50,000 square feet.

The ordinance and the zoning text changes include site and design limits intended to confine large storage facilities to appropriate industrially‑zoned areas. Planning staff and the applicant told council the lot‑size and access restrictions were deliberate measures to avoid proliferation of large storage buildings in commercial or residential areas.

The public hearing record and Planning Commission review were entered before the vote; no public opposition was recorded during the hearing.