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Trustees approve U-Haul expansion amid concern it could reduce retail at Douglas Road center
Summary
The board approved a second-reading special-use ordinance allowing U-Haul to expand into a large, long-vacant unit on Douglas Road. Trustees worried the move could cement the center as storage rather than retail; the motion passed 4-2.
The Village of Montgomery on Monday approved Ordinance 2,163 (second reading) granting a special use to Americo Real Estate to expand U-Haul self-storage at 1840 Douglas Road after trustees debated whether allowing storage at a prime corner would undermine the village’s retail vision.
Sonya (planning staff) told the board the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with conditions including a minimum of three landscape planters along the front façade and required maintenance of plantings. Rick Rottweiler, who identified himself as area district vice president for U-Haul, said the deep unit has remained vacant for years despite active marketing and that adding storage units would bring additional customers and investment to the center.
President Bradley and several trustees expressed concern about long-term land use on the site, noting high traffic counts and that the frontage had previously been the preferable retail location. “Are we willing to just give up on the center and have it all go storage?” President Bradley asked during discussion, summarizing the tension between immediate reuse and the village’s Douglas Road corridor plan.
Following debate about vacancy history, future applications and whether an approval would be effectively permanent, the board voted 4-2 to approve the ordinance on second reading. Trustees Sperling and Youngerman recorded No votes.
The ordinance includes conditions recommended by Planning and Zoning related to landscaping and maintenance; the petitioner said any future additional expansion would require returning to the board for permission.
