Forest Park council approves six‑story U‑Haul storage site plan on Harrison Street

The Forest Park Village Council approved an ordinance on June 13 granting site‑plan approval for a proposed six‑story U‑Haul self‑storage building at 7209 Harrison Street.

Rick Rotweiler, district vice president for U‑Haul in Chicago, told the council the project would include about 1,660 units, 20 on‑site parking spaces and interior load/unload bays so customers can pull inside the building. "All of our units are individually alarmed; there is key‑swipe access, and everything's monitored 24 hours a day," Rotweiler said, explaining the company’s security model.

Director Glink explained the application came to council as a by‑right site‑plan review and that the submission included a traffic study and modern stormwater controls complying with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District requirements. "The plan commission approved it unanimously," Director Glink said, noting the corner is undergoing wider redevelopment and that the property is currently 100 percent impervious surface.

Several commissioners sought clarifications about building height, residential visibility and landscaping. Commissioner Burns asked whether U‑Haul has other six‑story buildings nationwide and raised concerns about the project’s scale adjacent to residential alleys. Commissioner Maxam and others pressed about parking spillover onto Elgen and nearby narrow residential streets.

Council members also discussed the village’s 2013 comprehensive plan and where that guidance fits alongside zoning code and the site‑plan review. "The comprehensive plan is a guide," Director Glink said; "it is one of the factors involved with the approval for that site plan."

The ordinance was moved by Commissioner Maxam and seconded by Commissioner Nero. The clerk recorded Commissioner Burns voting no, Commissioner Maxam and Commissioner Nero voting yes, and Commissioner Vog abstaining; the mayor’s vote was not recorded in the transcript. The plan‑approval motion was recorded as passing on the council floor.

The site plan approval allows U‑Haul to proceed with the proposed demolition of an existing repair facility and construction of the new building, subject to the conditions and submittals required in the site‑plan review process. Council members said they expect further coordination on landscaping, photometric plans and any fencing or screening that is ultimately installed.

The council did not identify a specific date to begin construction; project timing will be driven by U‑Haul’s permitting and construction schedule and any outstanding submittals required by village staff.