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Jacksonville council grants appeal to allow large self‑storage project despite neighborhood opposition
Summary
The council voted 12‑5 to grant an appeal and approve a minor modification (item 2026‑0107) authorizing a large storage facility in a residential PUD; neighbors and at least one council member argued the project is incompatible with the surrounding community.
The Jacksonville City Council voted to grant an appeal and approve a minor modification that will allow a large self‑storage development in a residential area, a decision that drew sustained public opposition and at least one recorded council dissent.
The contested item, 2026‑0107, had been denied by the city planning commission and later amended by the Land Use & Zoning (LUZ) committee to grant approval. At the council meeting, Vice President Howland and Councilwoman Clark Murray disclosed ex parte communications with the applicant’s agent, Michael Herszburg, before the body voted.
Council Member Gaffne explained her no vote: “I just think it's a bad piece of legislation. It's a storage unit in a residential neighborhood … I just don't think it's a good fit,” she said, recounting community turnout and traffic and land‑use concerns she raised in committee. Multiple residents testified during public comment, describing the project as an unmanned industrial facility incompatible with nearby houses and schools; several urged the council to locate such facilities in light‑industrial corridors nearer major highways instead.
The council recorded the final tally as 12 yays and five nays and announced on the record that 2026‑0107 was approved. The transcript shows the council debated the legal effect of votes and that an attorney clarified that a green vote approves the minor modification and grants the appeal.
Votes at a glance (recorded items from the meeting): - 2026‑0107 (PUD minor modification/appeal): motion to grant appeal approved (vote 12‑5). - Several other quasi‑judicial ordinances and third‑reading items were approved during the meeting by recorded ballots; many passed unanimously or by large margins, according to the transcript.
What the vote does — and does not — do: the approval allows the amended PUD/minor modification to move forward per the planning action taken; it does not obviate other permits or regulatory processes (for example development orders, building permits or site‑specific conditions that may follow). Residents said they will continue to press for mitigations and discussions with the developer.
Source: Council debate, public comments and roll‑call tallies recorded on March 10, 2026.
