City approves storage business, despite location concerns

WASHINGTON — The Washington City Council has given a green light to a prospective business owner planning to build rental storage units in the Wiley Subdivision, despite concerns that doing so might trade off with other development in the area.

Tucked between Dollar Tree and Walmart on Washington’s eastern edge, prospective business owner Ryan Gronwald said it was the perfect spot for a personal storage site, saying customers wanted somewhere secure for their goods.

“It’s well-lit, well-trafficked, they don’t want it to be in an industrial park, they don’t want it to be behind houses and businesses in a dark alley,” he said. “When they want to get their Christmas decorations out of storage, that’s not where that clientele likes to go for their storage, that’s what brought me to the site.”

The 13,600 square foot project is expected to generate roughly $34,000 in property taxes, although the first phase is expected to bring in closer to $18,000 according to Gronwald, who said the area would be kept “very well-lit” and have an “up-class” and “modern” look.

The proposal was not well-received by the Washington Planning and Zoning Commission at a meeting April 8. While it got the vote of approval needed to reach the city council, P & Z Board Member Susan Fisher said she and others on the body would prefer to see other types of business in the area, especially fast food options.

In an email to Mayor Millie Youngquist obtained by The Union, Fisher cited the need for high tax returns and convenience for guests at a hotel that another developer hopes to eventually construct nearby.

“All of us view this lot as an ideal retail space, for either another store of some kind or, even better, another restaurant of some type,” Fisher wrote in an email to Mayor Millie Youngquist April 13, obtained by The Union with a public records request. “McDonald’s is the only place in town where you can drive through and grab a quick bite to eat or drink, and as you know, McDonald’s will be closed down for several months while renovations take place.”

A handful of other municipal officials seemed to share Fisher’s view last month, with City Administrator Joe Gaa recommending potential other locations for the business, and Council Member Illa Earnest voting against Gronwald’s site plan which ultimately passed 4-1.

Council Member Ivan Rangel, meanwhile, said he supported the storage business completely.

“I live on that side of town, I know it’d be nicer to have a storage unit closer to me,” he said.

While a few others on the council said they shared Fisher’s concerns, they didn’t find them persuasive enough to hold up another business’ growth, saying the lot in question had sat vacant since 2007.

“I’m all for (other) businesses coming in, we need to let them in, but I don’t want to hold a piece of property that someone’s willing to buy — that we aren’t taking tax revenue in for — because we’re hoping,” Council Member Pat Morgan said. “We don’t have anyone coming to us yet to do that.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com