By Anna Skinner
A proposal for a self-storage unit at the southwest corner of Ind. 32 and Oak Ridge Road elicited nothing but concern from council members at the meeting Dec. 12.
The proposal was an introduction, and although council members didn’t take a vote, they made sure their voices were heard.
The approximate five acres in the proposal would include seven buildings, with the southern building holding offices as well as storage space within three stories and 50,000 square feet. American Structurepoint is the petitioner.
Cindy Spoljaric was the first to voice her worries with the proposal.
“One of my first concerns with this project is I don’t think this was what we envisioned for the (Ind.) 32 corridor in terms of use,” she said. “We are looking for employment-generating uses.”
Councilman Steve Hoover echoed her concern.
“If this were to move forward, I think architecturally there would have to be some significant improvements on the exterior buildings, even those on the sides,” Hoover said. “The interior where you can’t see them, that’s one thing, but the east and west elevations will be visible form (Ind.) 32. Like Cindy, I would question if this is even the use we want on 32.”
Although councilors expressed a desire for the project to not move on to the Advisory Plan Commission, the proposal will be presented at the APC’s Jan. 4 meeting.
“We spent a lot of time on the 32 Overlay, and it’s very important to maintain the integrity of this plan, and I don’t see this fitting in,” Council Vice President Jim Ake said.
“I think there are probably better locations, but I don’t think this is a use we want taking up our 32 frontage as several of us have said,” Hoover added.
