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Bellevue planning staff urges commission to require conditional-use permits for self-storage in industrial zones
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Summary
The Bellevue Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council amend zoning to remove self-storage as a permitted use in flex, light-manufacturing and heavy-manufacturing districts and require conditional-use permits, saying the change would give the city more oversight over location and design.
Planning Department staff told the Bellevue Planning Commission on Thursday that the city should require conditional-use permits for self-storage facilities in flex (FX), light-manufacturing (ML) and heavy-manufacturing (MH) zoning districts so the city would have more oversight of where and how those developments are built.
"Currently, self storage facilities are a permitted use by right in those districts, which gives us no oversight over them," Planning Department staff said during the public hearing on the proposed amendment to sections 5.26, 5.27 and 5.28 of the City of Bellevue zoning ordinance. Staff recommended the change so proposed self-storage developments would be reviewed through a conditional-use permit process.
The staff presentation said requiring a conditional-use permit would allow the city to review site location, building design and whether a proposed development aligns with surrounding uses and the city's long-term planning and economic development goals. "Requiring a CUP for self storage facility for flex, light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, zoning districts would ensure development decisions along the key corridors ... are consistent with long term planning and economic development," the staff member said.
Commissioners asked staff how many legally nonconforming parcels would be created by the change. Planning Department staff said they did not have a precise count but did not believe the number would be large, and clarified that existing legally nonconforming uses could continue; the difference is that future approvals would be handled as conditional uses rather than as permitted uses.
A commissioner asked about timing if the City Council approves the amendment. Staff said the item will be scheduled for a City Council public hearing on May 19, 2026, with third reading set for June 2; staff said the ordinance would become effective about 15 days after final passage (mid-June), and that there were no active applications before the city that would be affected by that timing.
After discussion, a commissioner moved and another seconded to recommend approval of the amendment as presented; the Planning Commission voted to forward the recommendation to City Council. The Chair said the item will proceed to a City Council public hearing on May 19, 2026.
The commission also handled routine business at the meeting, including approving the March 26, 2026 minutes and accepting staff reports into the record. The meeting concluded with staff recognizing Commissioner Sims for his service; he is stepping down after about four years on the commission.
Next steps: the City Council will consider the amendment at a May 19, 2026 public hearing; the Planning Commission's recommendation will be part of the council record.
