One of the great things about living in just about any community in the United States is that if there is something that enough of the people do not like that the local government entity can pass a law to either regulate or ban it all together. On the flip side, if they later see that the law does not work or was wrong to begin with that can change to.
That is what is set to happen in the California community of Wildomar on Friday, January 13. A law banning the development of self storage facilities in the community will be expiring, opening the door for one of the more stable and successful industries to reenter the local market.
When the law expires it will revert back to the country ordinance which does allow for self storage facilities in the properly zoned areas. In the interim, the city council will be working on amending the country ordinance so that they can further regulate where self storage facilities may be built.
“I’m worried about permanent concrete structures,” Councilman Bob Cashman said. Like many, he is working under the misperception that self storage facilities are an eyesore on the community.
One of his fellow council members, Marsha Swanson, has a different take; she doesn’t see the need for action at this point claiming that the self storage industry has not shown interest in becoming more prevalent in the community. However, according to some city staff members there has been some interest by parties seeking development applications.
Some of the concern is also that self storage facilities will not generate as much revenue for the city, but in 2010 the self storage industry accounted for approximately $3 billion in state and local property taxes nationwide.
While the Wildomar City Council has been slow to embrace the self storage industry that has not been the case for all government entities. The State of Idaho has acted in a complete opposite manner, embracing the industry to the point where the State invested in it. In 2010 the Idaho Department of Lands purchased a self storage facility because it was deemed a solid investment opportunity.
In the meantime, there have been several issues surrounding the purchase, but none of them have had to do with the aesthetics of the building, but more whether it is appropriate for the government to be competing with private business.
Sources Used:
“Wildomar's Moratorium On Storage Facilities Set To Expire.” LakeElsinore-WildomarPatch; 11 January 2012.
“State-Owned Private Business Venture Draws Split Decision From GUARDIAN Readers.” Boise Guardian; 20 October 2010.
2011 SSA Fact Sheet; Self Storage Association.