Council denies Old Ranch Road self‑storage appeal but imposes operating conditions after resident safety and process concerns

City Council considered a contested appeal of an administratively approved development plan for a 4.7‑acre self‑storage facility at Old Ranch Road and Rhinestone Drive (appeal of planning commission decision). After multi‑hour testimony from planning staff, the appellant, the applicant, city traffic engineering, numerous neighborhood speakers and council deliberation, the council denied the appeal and approved the development with two express conditions: (1) weekday closing time limited to 9 p.m.; and (2) non‑reflective roof treatment for the storage buildings. The final council vote to deny the appeal with those conditions was recorded 6 to 3.

What was at issue: Neighbors and the appellant, Julie Price, argued the project harms neighborhood character, increases vehicle and truck traffic through residential streets, introduces safety and crime risks, provided inadequate community engagement during review, and might affect nearby Preble's jumping mouse habitat.…