Council approves standards to allow mini-storage in light industrial zones

West Richland’s City Council on June 16 adopted Ordinance 13‑26, a code text amendment to permit mini/self-storage in Light Industrial (LI) and Combined Commercial/Light Industrial (CLI) zones under new development standards.

Community development staff and consultant drafters told council the changes respond to past concerns that storage developments had been visually austere and sometimes consumed commercial frontage. The amendment restricts new mini-storage to LI and CLI zones, requires a minimum 250‑foot setback from major arterials and collectors, mandates screening and landscape buffers where storage adjoins residences, restricts outdoor storage and establishes standards for screen walls and gate setbacks for vehicular stacking.

Community Development Director Colin Cortez told council the draft updates also add definitions for slope categories, limits on outdoor storage and aesthetic standards for freestanding screen walls similar to existing commercial design guidelines.

The planning commission reviewed the amendment and recommended council approval after a public hearing. During council debate, some members expressed concern about prescriptive design elements; Council Member Ken Stoker said he supported returning mini-storage as a permitted use but opposed many of the new design mandates and said he intended to vote against the ordinance. Other council members, including John Smart and Kate Moran, said design standards protect neighborhood character and ensure commercial frontage is preserved for retail or office uses.

The ordinance passed on the council floor and will apply to future mini-storage proposals; nonconforming, pre-existing storage complexes may continue to operate but would be subject to new standards only if they expand or redevelop.

Council members and staff said the standards aim to allow a viable business type while protecting residential areas and arterial commercial frontage.