Outdoor storage request gets cold reception from Plan Commission

The Saukville Plan Commission has recommended that a request by U-Haul Moving and Storage to erect outdoor storage containers be denied.

U-Haul owner Ross Brooks petitioned the village to approve a zoning change that would allow him to erect eight outdoor storage structures, containing an unspecified number of storage units, on the north and east side of its facility at 835 E. Green Bay Ave.

Brooks told commission members that outside storage units are more accessible and would help him better market his indoor storage units.

In 2016, the village amended its zoning to make indoor storage a conditional use in the B-4 highway business district that includes the U-Haul property, which is the site of the former Piggly Wiggly grocery store. Outdoor storage, however, is currently only allowed in M-1 manufacturing districts.

Members were not receptive to Brooks’ new proposal.

“If we approve it, we’re opening the door to mini-warehouse storage” in that area, commission member Chris Lear said.

A memo from Village Attorney Gerald Antoine and Village Administrator Dawn Wagner to the Plan Commission stated that “recent changes in the state statutes have made the conditional use decision process more rigid and that once a conditional use is established in the zoning district it is now more difficult to deny an application for that use.” 

Wagner pointed out that an outdoor storage operation on Northwoods Road near the U-Haul site is in the Town of Saukville.

The Village Board will hold a public hearing on Brooks’ petition at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4.