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Public hearing on zoning change would move self‑storage to conditional use in manufacturing districts
Summary
At a May 19 public hearing on Ordinance 4216, self‑storage operator Jeff McGregor warned that changing self‑storage from permitted use to conditional use could block planned expansions; staff said they could draft an amendment to allow existing facilities to expand by right and council set the third reading for June 2.
The Bellevue City Council opened a public hearing on May 19 for Ordinance 4216, which would amend city zoning to require a conditional use permit (CUP) for self‑storage facilities in specified flex/light and heavy manufacturing districts. The ordinance was read aloud and the council took public comment.
Jeff McGregor, who represents Lockbox Storage and cited an existing Bellevue facility, said he opposed removing self‑storage as a permitted use because his company and others have made multiyear, phased investments and a CUP requirement could prevent planned expansions. "We've made financial commitments... and now we might get rejected on a conditional use permit to expand an existing facility," he said.
City staff (Miss Palm) confirmed the amendment would change the use from permitted to conditional, giving the council oversight and the ability to deny projects. She told council that staff could draft compromise language to allow existing facilities to expand by right on parcels they already own and return the amendment for further council consideration.
Council members discussed Bellevue’s limited developable land and the desire to ensure scarce property is devoted to higher‑tax generating uses. The public hearing was closed and the third reading of Ordinance 4216 was scheduled for June 2, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Next steps: staff will prepare amendment language if the council requests it; the council will consider final action at the June 2 meeting.
Sources: Public comment and staff exchange recorded at the Bellevue City Council meeting, May 19, 2026.
